I Thessalonians 5:18 " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." This past Friday I was mediating on this subject that was started in January concerning the subject of appreciation. I had a thougt that I believe needs to be shared in this series on appreciation. Whenever one goes out in public, it's obvious there are numerous people that are very ungrateful and unhappy. That's obvious by the lack of respect many people have for others or physical property, etc. I've walked into restrooms a number of times over the years and have seen graffiti written on the walls of the restroom. People don't have any respect for public property. Many times out in public there are many people who are rude to one another. That happens many times in places of business. I've seen in fast food restaurants where employees will be rude to the customer and vice versa. We're not very grateful for much anything anymore. We're always dissatisfied and unhapy. Those are signs of an ungrateful society.
Many times over the years I've listened to people being interviewed by the media and many times you'll hear the question posed to them what's one of their greatest regrets in life. Many times you'll hear numerous answers. Sometimes I've heard grown people being asked what some of their greatest regrets in life. I've heard some say they wish they listened to their parents when they were growing up or they regret making terrible financial decisions, etc. I have my own self been thinking the last few years about what some of my greatest regrets were. I could list several things, but I believe probably one of my greatest regrets is my lack of appreciation for how well I had it growing up. I wish I was much more appreciative of what people had done for me growing up. That's probably why the subject of being thankful has been on my heart the last few years. I have other regrets besides my lack of appreciation growing up, however, the subject of thankfulness covers a broad territory. If I was more appreciative of what was done for me growing up, I'm sure many of the other areas I had troubles with would've been eliminated. I have a quote on the blog description from the late author and theologian Francis Schaeffer. He said rebellion is the result of a heart that's not thankful (I'm paraphrasing).
In this generation in which we live, we have a shallow mentality of what it means to be thankful. We think of being thankful as expressing our gratitude towards someone for giving us a gift or performing a service for us. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Appreciation is to be a way of life. Our thought life, our attitude, our actions, our relationship with other people, our handling of material things, etc. is dependent upon whether or not we're appreciative. If a Christian has a thankful heart, then it will be manifested in the attributes just mentioned above. First of all, a person has to be born again in order for them to be thankful like they should. It takes a working of the Holy Spirit in our lives to enable us to be appreciative of what Jesus did for us on Calvary. However, parents must instill the concept of thanksgiving in the lives of their children at an early age. They need to be taught who they are and recognize that without God, they're sinners and destined to hell. They need to understand that the gifts that are given to them is a result of the love of their parents and those around them. Children must be taught that they're not entitled. One of the dangers of showering children with gifts is the tendency children have to develop this entitlement mentality in their minds. That's what's wrong with many Americans today. There are many that naturally think they're entitled to healthcare, a house, a vehicle, all the luxuries of life, etc. They believe the world owes them a living. Children must be taught at an early age they're not the center of the universe nor are they entitled to all the nice things of life. They need to be taught they're to earn their way in life. I'm not opposed to parents giving their children gifts, but it's important children be taught that they're not entitled to what they possess. A child who possesses an entitlement mentality will become an unthankful and rebellious child. I'm not a parent nor do I claim to be but I do have enough sense to know that possessing this mentality you're entitled to a living will destroy your character and as a result will produce an ungrateful and rebellious heart.
I was thinking about the issue of submission. Many homes today have a problem in the area of submission. Wives have a problem with submitting to their husbands and children have a problem in submitting to their parents. Husbands have a problem submitting themselves to God and spiritual authority. People that have an issue with authority undoubtedly are individuals who are not thankful. I've never seen a person who has an issue with submission who was thankful. On the other hand, I've never seen a person who was truly submitted to authority possess an ungrateful attitude. Unthankfulness and rebellion go together like a hand in a glove. For example, as a result of being unthankful, Lucifer rebelled against God and was thrown out of Heaven. Lucifer was originally an angel of light until he allowed pride to come into his heart and he rebelled against God. He was ungrateful being what God had created him to be. Today he's known as Satan.
Man that possesses an ungrateful heart will be a man who has issues with rebellion. Rebellion stems from an ungrateful heart. A person that's not appreciative is in essence saying that what God has provided for them isn't sufficient. Romans 1:21 talks about those that are unthankful and where that will lead to. Ungratefulness will lead a sinner to reject God, because they won't see a need to come to Jesus if they don't recognize they've sinned against God. If they don't come to the conclusion that God loves them despite the fact they're sinners and that they need Jesus, they won't get saved.
I want to point out that I'm not a parent nor do I claim to have the answers on how to raise children. However, I was once a young child myself and I do know a few things from being young myself once. I wholeheartedly believe if parents will instill into their children the importance of being thankful, then I believe many problems will be eliminated. If you raise a child that posesses a thankful heart, you're not going to have the problems with him/her like you would if they were unthankful. A child that realizes who they are and recognizes they have what they have because of the grace of God, it will make a difference on their behavior and attitude. Any child that has a problem with rebellion has a problem with being thankful. There's not much Satan can do with a person who possesses a heart of thanksgiving toward God. If children learn to be thankful at an early age and if they continue being thankful throughout their lives, then they won't be as likely to make decisions that they will later regret in life. I'm not insinuating that children who have a grateful heart don't have problems. They're flesh and they will have problems like anyone else. However, the problems that child will have will be minimized if they live a live of thanksgiving. A heart of thanksgiving will influence their thought life, their actions, relationships with other people, decisions, and how they handle material things. The subject of appreciation is much deeper than what we recognize. That's something I'm learning myself. It is important for parents to teach their children to thank people whenever they (the children) are given a gift. However, thankfulness doesn't stop at that point. Thanking someone for a gift or service is just the tip of the iceberg. A heart of thanksgiving will be reflected in our thoughts and actions.
In order for parents to instill into their children the principle of thanksgiving, they (the parents) themselves must take the lead and be an example to their children. Parents can't expect their children to be thankful if the parents themselves possess an ungrateful attitude. Parents must not only be an example, but they must discipline their children. They must correct their children's behavior when they show signs of unthankfulness. Parents must instill into their children they're not entitled to the goods of this world. They must work for what they possess. It's important parents instill into their children a strong work ethic. Children that learn to work will learn to be much more appreciative of life. Proverbs 14:23 says that in all labor there is profit. Children that are taught to work will reap the rewards of their labor. People who work diligently tend to be more satisfied and contented in life. God created us to use our hands to labor and in return we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. Labor molds and shapes a person's character. Parents that teach their children the importance of labor are more likely to produce children that are contented and grateful than those parents who don't instill a work ethic into their children. An entitlement mentality produces ungratefulness in people. That's very evident in today's society. I've never seen anyone who believed the world owes them a living possess a heart of thanksgiving. The contrary is the case.
Children that possess a heart of thanksgiving turn out to be happier and contented people. Children with a heart of thanksgiving have a tendency to be more submissive to authority than those who possess an ungrateful heart. Thanksgiving and submission go together like a hand in a glove. An ungrateful heart will produce a heart of rebellion. If parents raise their children to be thankful, they won't have to devote as much time correcting their chilldren nor will they have to emphasize obedience as frequently. I believe obedience is a natural result of a grateful heart. Things will fall into line in many people's lives if they develop a grateful heart. It's the lack of a grateful heart that produces trouble.
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