Gratitude

I live in a complex where I am struck by the different attitudes of people who think of gratitude. The workers who are not wealthy say, “I am grateful to God because I have a job.” The residents generally say, “Why has God done this to me?” I am very grateful for my large family, all Christians, who live nearby and visit often. However, like the 3 babies I had longer ago than I like to remember, I persist in bawling to God if he doesn’t answer in the way I wish!

God and our Lord Jesus Christ have much to say in the Bible about the poor and our treatment of them. This is a dominant theme in the Bible. Here are some examples: “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Ps 82:3,4 NIV). “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or needing clothes, or sick or in prison and did not help you? He will reply: Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me,” (Matthew 25: 42-45 NIV). “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man wearing filthy clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man in fine clothes and you say, here is a good seat for you, but you say to the poor man, stand here, or sit on the floor by my feet, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:2-4 NIV). “If anyone has material possessions and a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth.” (1 John 3:17,18 NIV).

There are so many things for which we can be grateful. I am especially grateful for the 66 years I had with my darling husband. He passed into the presence of his Lord one month ago. Here are some of the great many verses about thanksgiving and gratitude in the Bible. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” (2 Cor 9:15 NIV). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 14:6,7 NIV).  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV). “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever.”  (Ps 118:29 NIV).  “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Cor 15:57 NIV). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Ps 28:7 NIV).

And I am grateful to our Lord for everyone who reads this blog.

God bless you
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Merle