Gratitude. It’s something we might not think about it a lot. Or we might acknowledge it’s a nice thing to possess but fail to see the gravity of its absence.
Scripture, however, highlights its importance not only by urging us repeatedly to be thankful but especially by showing the failure to be grateful is the root of all sorts of sin. Look at Romans 1:21 - For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God OR GIVE THANKS but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.
The verses that follow this insight list foolishness, idolatry, debauchery and all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving and unmerciful (Romans 1:29-31) as a result of the root of ingratitude.
WOW.
Obviously our failure to be grateful is not such a small thing after all!
This passage shows us that our failure to give God the glory He is due as Almighty God - the acknowledgement of His holiness, His goodness, His mercy, His faithfulness, and , yes, His wrath - shows up as ingratitude. This ingratitude that results in the destruction displayed in verses 29-31 first shows itself as a preference to glorify ourselves instead of God. Maybe it’s entitlement - thinking that the good God bestows is due to our worth, a payment that we have earned, deserved good fortune because we are so self-sufficient. Maybe we think it’s sort of “karma” - that we have done good and therefore good comes to us. Or maybe we don’t even think about it at all - oblivious to the blessings God mercifully showers on us all.
We do not deserve any good thing. We are utterly helpless to bring about any blessing in our lives - all are completely due to God’s benevolent grace. What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if [it were not a gift]?”( I Corinthians 4:7) Unless we joyfully embrace this truth, we will suppress it in self-exaltation and fail to give God the glory He alone deserves.
The truth is beautifully simple. We get the blessings and He gets the glory. May we live every moment in the light of that truth. May we turn our underserving faces to Heaven and give Him thanks. May He grant us the grace to see the infinite blessings He bestows.