Thankfulness – The Great Antidote

Introduction – The Proud Lion

A story is told of a lion who believed he was the undisputed king of the jungle.

Confident and cocky, he bypassed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear.

“Who is the king of the jungle?” the lion demanded.

“You are, of course,” replied the bear.

Pleased, the lion gave a mighty roar.

Next, he asked the tiger, “Who is the king of the jungle?”

“Everyone knows you are, mighty lion,” came the quick reply.

Finally, the lion turned to the elephant:

“Who is the king of the jungle?”

Without a word, the elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him through the air, slammed him into a tree, dunked him in the river, and dropped him—bruised and battered—on the shore.

Struggling to his feet and spitting out river water, the lion muttered,

“Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason to get mean about it!”

It’s a humorous picture, but isn’t that what pride does to us?

It blinds us. We can roar like kings, but a single circumstance outside our control can humble us in an instant.

Beloved, what is the antidote for pride?

What will rescue us from the subtle poison that whispers,

You don’t need help. You’ve got this. You deserve more. You’re in control?

The answer may surprise you.

It’s not willpower. It’s not more discipline.

It is thankfulness.

Thankfulness is more than polite manners or a quick “thank you, Lord” at mealtime.

It is a deep, ongoing posture of heart that reorients us from self to Savior.

It is, as Scripture shows, the essence of worship and the great antidote to pride.

Self-exaltation is the most dangerous snare of the enemy. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.

Today we will see how thankfulness

1. exposes our dependence on God,

2. frees us from comparison and discontent,

3. restores our focus on God’s glory, and

4. breaks pride’s grip through Spirit-filled worship.

And my prayer is that this word will spark a revival of gratitude in every heart.

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I. Pride Blinds Us to Our Dependence on God

Pride is rooted in self-reliance.

It says, “My strength, my smarts, my strategy brought this about.”

But God’s Word warns us:

> “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.”

—Deuteronomy 8:17–18

Pride forgets God.

It edits Him out of the story of our success.

But every heartbeat, every breath, every opportunity is a gift.

James 1:17 reminds us:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

When thankfulness fills the heart, perspective returns.

We remember: I am not the source. God is.

We don’t deserve grace; we receive it.

Illustration – The Farmer and the Storm

Thomas was a hard-working farmer whose barns were full and whose fields were lush.

Over time, he grew confident and boasted, “This farm is all because of my hard work.”

Then a violent storm came.

Rain pounded, winds howled, and by morning his crops were ruined and his barn collapsed.

Nothing he could do would stop it.

A neighbor came to help and gently said,

“We can’t control the storms, Thomas. It’s good to remember we’re not in charge of everything.”

Thomas rebuilt his farm—and his perspective.

He learned humility and began to thank God for every harvest.

Friends, the storms of life—whether health crises, economic shifts, or relational pain—remind us that we are not in charge.

Thankfulness doesn’t ignore effort; it places effort under grace.

It whispers, Lord, all I have and all I am is from You.

True worship begins with that confession.

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II. Pride Leads to Comparison and Discontentment

Where pride lives, comparison thrives.

It’s the oldest social media feed: scrolling through others’ lives to measure our worth.

We say, “Why do they have more success? More recognition? Better health?”

Paul writes:

> “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.

But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”

—2 Corinthians 10:12

Comparison breeds discontentment and steals joy.

Illustration – The Tale of Two Artists

Emma and Clara were gifted painters in a seaside village.

Emma painted serene seascapes; Clara painted dramatic storms.

At the village exhibition, Emma’s peaceful work won first prize.

Clara, though talented, was eaten alive by jealousy.

She passed Emma’s house that evening and found her quietly enjoying the sunset, unconcerned about the contest.

Emma’s secret? Gratitude for beauty itself, not for applause.

Beloved, pride always asks, Why them and not me?