Have you ever been to a party or a holiday event where a bunch of small children received gifts? Well, from my experience there is almost every time that at least one of those children is not happy with the gift that they got. They each may have gotten something different, but not everyone will be happy or satisfied with the gift that they had been given. They weren’t thankful.
When someone is thankful they are expressing their gratitude for something. They are pleased and happy, qualities that people sometimes tend to lack. It might be a dry, dry summer with little to no rain, and a person may say, “Why won’t it just rain?!” Yet when the rain finally does come, what do some people do? Complain about the mud. Either way, they weren’t happy. They weren’t realizing the blessings that they had either way. Yet, we are supposed to be filled with thanks for all of the things which we have been given by the Lord, and not to complain for the things which we don’t.
Psalms 34:1-10 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Do you know why people don’t have things sometimes? Because they don’t ask for them! The Bible teaches us that if we desire something from the Lord that we should ask Him in prayer, believing that He is able to grant us our request, if it is His will He will answer them. But either way, whether we have things or if we don’t we must be filled with contentment and thank the Lord for the many blessings which He has given us.
Many people only focus on the things which they don’t have, and it causes them to become blind to what they already do have. Their greed and lust causes them to see what others have been given and covet it for themselves, but this is not the way of the Lord. We should not covet the possessions of others, but instead be content with the things which we have.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Whatever it is that we receive in life we need to thank the Lord for what He has given us. If it is the Lord’s will we will have things, or not have things. Be thankful, because things could always be worse. Be thankful for what you have, not discontent with the things that you don’t. Count your blessings each day!
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 