Attitude of Gratitude

II Timothy 3:1-5  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…unthankful…”

Ephesians 5:20  “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Thessalonians 5:18  "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

There is no doubt that this is an exciting time of year! The weather is getting cooler (even here in Houston!), the winter clothes are getting pulled out of the closet, and Starbucks is already out with their holiday favorites. Commercials are beginning to have a jingle to them, Christmas trees are on sale, and Thanksgiving turkeys are running for their lives! Pretty soon, Thanksgiving break will be here and we’ll all be putting on that extra layer against the cold (and no, I’m not talking about clothing either). Yet in the middle of this excitement, how are we supposed to take the time to reflect and be thankful?

I’ll never forget the statement that I heard Pastor Randy Dignan make at a camp I was working at one summer. His message was entitled, “Thank You”, which is a little bit of an unusual camp message. As he introduced his sermon, he made this powerful statement: “Patrick Henry said it like this: 'Give me liberty, or give me death.' The hippy movement of the 60’s and 70’s cried: 'Give me liberty.' Today we say: 'Give me.' We have come a long way from the principles that built this country.”

God’s Word warns us in II Timothy 3:1-5 of how men will act in the latter times. If we’re honest, this list could describe many of the problems that we have in America today, if not all of them. Right in the middle of all these problems, we find that Paul warned Timothy that people were to become unthankful. This really is a humility check for all of us, because no one wants to admit that they are unthankful. Unfortunately though, disliking the way a word sounds doesn’t mean you are exempt from being classified under the definition. Here in America, almost all of us have more than we deserve or even need. I’m challenged when I truly consider whether or not I am thankful.

So what’s the solution then? How can we be thankful amidst everything else that is going on? The answer is so simple that we often just shrug it off and continue in our complacency. We are commanded in Ephesians 5:20 to give thanks always, for all things! I Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us that not only is it a commandment, but it "is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." God’s answer and ultimate will for the right amount of Thanksgiving is “always for all things”! I think it’s awesome when families sit down around the table at Thanksgiving and truly do give thanks for something that is on their heart! I encourage you to implement that in your Thanksgiving tradition if you don’t already. But lets face it. It should be more than just a part of our November. God commands us to always have the Attitude of Gratitude!