Lesson for June 7, 2023
Principles for Christian Living
Lesson 5
Gratitude
Gratitude is a matter of having the right attitude. And attitude is everything! Knowing who we are and what we have as a result of being in union with Jesus Christ should cause us to be grateful. As we grow up spiritually, our gratitude will also grow. If we understand that our lives are in God’s hands and that He will direct our paths if we choose to allow Him to, we can have gratitude in any circumstance of life. (Colossians 2:6-8)
We must learn to be grateful for even the hardships in life. Quite often these situations are used by God to teach us valuable lessons. They can also reveal areas of weakness with which we need to deal. How we handle these hardships can be a springboard to advance us in the Christian Way of Life by increasing our faith in God and our dependence upon God. A life of gratitude also prepares us for gratitude in death. (I Corinthians 15:54-57; I Thessalonians 5:18)
II Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph (victory) in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
When we make the choice to know Jesus Christ not only as our Savior, but also as our example, the standard to which we are to achieve, we will discover the right attitude that we are to exhibit. By following Christ’s example, we can be victorious. According to God’s Word, Christ set aside His deity in order to become a man. As the God-man, Jesus Christ made the choice to humble Himself and obey God the Father’s plan of salvation. This plan called for Jesus Christ to die on the Cross as a substitute for each of us. Jesus Christ went to the Cross in a state of perfection, having lived a perfect (sinless) life as a human being by using the power of the Holy Spirit. This same power is ours as believers in Christ, and is given to us in order to live a victorious life. (Philippians 2:5-7)
Christ’s obedience to the Father’s plan is an example to us to do the same. Christ never complained nor found fault with the Father’s plan. His attitude was one of humility and obedience. Jesus Christ had a personal sense of destiny. He knew exactly what the plan entailed and willingly executed it. We should be grateful that He did, since it was for our benefit, not only for salvation, but also as an example of how to live the Christian Way of Life. (Philippians 2:12-16)
Our attitude is a mirror into our soul. God’s Word is very clear on this subject. We are told time and again throughout the Scriptures that we are to do everything without grumbling and complaining. (Philippians 2:14-15)
You will recall the story of the children of Israel in the wilderness. It took them 40 years to make an 11-day trip. Why? Because they had bad attitudes! They continually complained to Moses and blamed God for everything they didn’t like along the way. The result was that they were not allowed to enter the Promised Land. (Book of Numbers)
An attitude of gratitude and an attitude of grumbling, complaining, self-pity, and fault-finding are mutually exclusive. Our attitude lets us know whether we are trusting God in every situation. Life is not always easy but trusting God should be. After all, doesn’t He have the best in mind for us? (Ephesians 4:29-32)
When we complain, we are voicing dissatisfaction and discontentment with our situation to God. Therefore, we are complaining about what He is or is not doing, instead of trusting Him and using the Problem-Solving Devices. When we have a complaining and worried attitude, we are actually criticizing God, and this is the height of arrogance. We cannot be trusting in God and complaining and worrying at the same time. Remember that many situations we face are of our own doing, not God’s. God however will often use these situations to teach us valuable lessons. And God is always there to help us through these situations. An attitude of faith brings victory in every trial or test we face. If we pass the test with a good attitude, we have benefited ourselves. God never tests us beyond what we can handle, but we don’t know what we can handle until He tests us. And just because we can handle our situation doesn’t mean that we will handle it correctly. Proper application of the truth that we have learned from the Word of God is the key to victory in any test. (I Corinthians 10:13; I Thessalonians 5:18; I Peter 4:12-14)
Part of gratitude is being content with what you have. God warns against a lustful attitude and encourages us to be satisfied with what He has already provided. His promise to all believers is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. God knows, even before it happens, what each of us will face in life, and He has made every provision for us. Our responsibility is to exercise our faith by always giving thanks regardless of circumstances, knowing that God is working things out to benefit us. (Philippians 4:11; Ephesians 5:20; Romans 8:28)
We can lose our victory in life if we have the wrong attitude toward God and His Word. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Everything we have, we received from God. We came into this world without material possessions, and we will depart without material possessions. The real gain in life is to know Jesus Christ and to glorify Him as His representatives. (Matthew 6:24-34, 16:26; Hebrews 13:5, I Timothy 6:6-7)
I Timothy 6:6-11, “But godliness in the Christian Way of Life is great profit which brings contentment. For we came into this world with nothing, and it is certain we will take nothing out. But be content or satisfied with having food and clothing. But they that strive to be wealthy fall into many foolish and hurtful fleshly desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, which those that have lusted after it have been seduced away from the faith and have pierced themselves through with pain. But you, person of God, flee these things and rather pursue righteousness, integrity, faith, love, patience, and meekness.”
“Gratitude is the Fairest Blossom which Springs from the Soul”