Ungrateful Attitude or Grateful Aptitude
1 Thes. 5:12-17
12 My friends, we ask you to be thoughtful of your leaders who work hard and tell you how to live for the Lord. 13 Show them great respect and love because of their work. Try to get along with each other. 14 My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 Don’t be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else. 16 Always be joyful 17 and never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.
Psalm 46
1God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea. 3Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains. 4A river and its streams bring joy to the city, which is the sacred home of God Most High. 5God is in that city, and it won’t be shaken. He will help it at dawn. 6Nations rage! Kingdoms fall! But at the voice of God the earth itself melts. 7The LORD All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come! See the fearsome things the LORD has done on earth. 9God brings wars to an end all over the world. He breaks the arrows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields. [a] 10Our God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me." 11The LORD All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
Back in the days before automobiles, there was a traveling salesman who acquired a mule for use in his business. He was so appreciative that he would begin each trip by thanking God for providing the mule. Eventually the animal learned that "Thank God" meant to go. When they reached their destination, the salesman would again give a prayer of thanks, concluding with "Amen." And so the mule learned that "Amen" meant to stop. Before long, the business prospered and the salesman was able to upgrade to a horse. Having no need of the mule, the salesman sold him to another businessman in town. He explained the necessary commands and with a "Thank God", the mule and it’s new owner were off. Well, it was such a nice day and the ride so enjoyable, that before long the businessman forgot everything else, until he suddenly realized that he was heading for the edge of a high cliff. "Whoa!" he said to the mule, but the mule did not whoa. "Stop!" he commanded, but the mile did not stop. Frantically pulling on the reigns, the man yelled out a desperate prayer: "O God, please save me!--Amen." With that the mule came to an abrupt stop, just in the nick of time, at the edge of the cliff. Breathing a sigh of relief, the man said, "Thank God I guess the moral of the story is that while it’s good to express your thankfulness, sometimes it’s best to just keep your mouth shut - or something like that!
First of all let’s get this straight we are talking about the necessity of being thankful – not just because of but in spite of. Ungrateful Attitudes or Grateful Aptitude. What do you mean preacher??? Well bear with me and we will find out which side of the spectrum each of us fall on. Ungrateful – unsatisfied –displeased –discontented – unhappy – ill at ease - no peace….Ungrateful attitude causes depression, grief, stress, disorientation, disillusion, desperation, dissatisfaction. But a Grateful Aptitude – is simply a mindset of appreciation for the gift of life. This type thinking will allow a person to rise even when others think that they are standing on quicksand. Gratefulness is a mindset. You are thankful for everything. Appreciate anything – find good in each situation – and rejoice through every circumstance. This allows you to have peace in the midst of your mess because you are thanking God for never losing a battle yet!
An Ungrateful Attitude will give you:
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1. First of all, unappreciative people - people who do not have an attitude of gratitude - are never satisfied.
People who live without an ungrateful attitude are always waiting for something bigger and better before they’ll be thankful. Or so they say. But a grateful aptitude lets you rise because you are thankful for the little miracles of life that come along today. If we are not grateful for the little things today – you can bet – God won’t allow you to see the big ones of tomorrow. That’s why an ungrateful attitude can only lead to a lower level where as a grateful aptitude will allow you to cling to the cross – view your crown – and leap over your circumstance.
Ungrateful attitudes cause STRESS.
Here’s how it works. People who have an ungrateful attitude actually believe they have done it all themselves. "Why should I be thankful?" they think. "Everything I have, I earned! If I’m going to thank anybody, I’ll thank me." Now, I’m not saying old fashioned hard work and effort isn’t important, but if you take the "I’ve done it all myself" attitude to it’s logical conclusion it eventually becomes "I’ve done it all myself in the past and so it’s all up to me in the future. I don’t need people. I don’t need God. I’ll carry the load all by myself." Psychologists tell us that that pattern of thinking is a sure-fire recipe for all kinds of mental illness beginning with stress and leading to anxiety and depression. That’s why an ungrateful attitude is a road map to the loony bin where as a Grateful aptitude is a constant connection to God. You are looking past the hills and toward the heavens from where your true help really comes from. The song writer says walking up the King’s Highway!!! Be grateful that the Lord you serve has the capability to handle any and everything and you can’t do nothing but Rise ---
Ungrateful attitude erases joy
Think about it. Who do you know who fits the description of "never satisfied and always stressed out? "Without meeting that person, I can tell you two things about them: they never say "thanks" and you would never associate the word "joyful" with their disposition. I’ll tell you one more thing: you - and everybody else they know - probably don’t enjoy being around them very much. But when you are grateful – that Grateful aptitude is more than just another character quality that would be "nice to have." It’s absolutely essential to your spiritual life, absolutely essential to your mental health, and it’s absolutely essential to your relationships. But most of all it saying to God, yes I do have faith in you.
A Grateful aptitude requires a Heart of Gratitude
So where does it come from? All through this series we’ve made the point that what’s in us eventually comes out of us and like any other attitude this one also comes from what’s on the inside.
Well, what’s on the inside of a person who has an attitude of gratitude? What’s in their heart and mind that keeps overflowing in "thank-you’s" to people and to God for the gift of life? I’ve observed four things. When we complain in our spirit – when we think negative thoughts – when we simply hold our tongue but have not actually asked God to bridle our tongue – we can sing I thank you Jesus all day long and it won’t mean a thing (pardon my grammar) because it don’t got no zing…..
#1. (And this is the key and I’ve said it in one form or another in every message in this series) There is an understanding that gratitude is not dependent on good circumstances.
People with this attitude believe that it’s possible to do exactly what the Bible says:
Give thanks in all circumstances [good, bad or ugly], for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18NIV They don’t believe the lie that life has to be on the upswing before they can be satisfied. Why – because of faith in God – which Hebrews 11 says is simply the substance of what we hope for – not what we have seen. So I can get up and stay up with a Grateful Aptitude because my aptitude is not determined upon what is going on around me…. My aptitude is not decreased by the situation at hand. My aptitude is not affected by the problem of the day. I can still do the will of God even when trials come because I am grateful to God. I can still witness when I have a bad day because I am yet grateful to God. I can still praise God even when my body is aching because I am grateful. I can still worship even when people in my family have disappointed me because I am grateful to God. I can still celebrate the goodness of my Father even when my money runs short and the bill collector would like me to believe they have the final say because I am grateful to God. I can still shout Hallelujah even though I can’t see what coming my way and Satan wants me to believe ain’t nothing coming – because my daddy says eyes haven’t seen… ears haven’t heard… nor has it entered into the hearts of man what God got for me cuz I sure do love Him. I can stand just like God told me to after I’ve done everything I know to do – because I know that He knows even more --- I can continue to stand on the promises of God even when it seems as if all hope is gone – because my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but Holy lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand…. All other Ground is sinking sand. I trust in the one who calms the waters – not the one who tries to make me lose faith in my storms. I look to the one who provides my every need – not to the one who tries to steal what God gave me. I look to the one who is the source of my strength not to the one who attacks when I am weak. I look to the one who told me trouble don’t last always…not to the one who would like me to believe that this trial is gonna kill me. Because I am certain just Like David
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom am I afraid?
2 2 When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, These my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD’S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD’S beauty, to visit his temple.
5 For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, Will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock.
6 Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every side! I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the LORD.
7 I Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.
But it don’t stop there – David gets bolder when it seems he should get weaker
3 "Come," says my heart, "seek God’s face"; your face, LORD, do I seek!
9
Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my help; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior!
10
Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in.
11
LORD, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Do not abandon me to the will of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.
13 4 But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD’S goodness in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!
Oh you don’t believe that a grateful aptitude is a sure way to go up…Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
The word of God suffieciently supports the direction gratitude will take you…. But best of all Jesus secures an upward direction for those of us who are grateful when he said – If I am lifted up from the earth – I will draw all men unto me… so if he was lifted up – and we are going to draw to him – that direction is up….. Stop being ungrateful --- stop looking at what was – and what you did. But instead be grateful. Looking backwards and downwards will only cause you to stumble and trip – but when you look upward and onward you can only excel…. So matter what – just remember it’s still a day that the Lord has made and rejoice in it!
