Becoming a Thankful Person

by Rich Nathan

Over the past several weeks, the Holy Spirit has spoken to me personally and also through a number of prophetic words about the importance of becoming a thankful person. Thanksgiving is a big deal to God because thanksgiving reveals your fundamental view of life. In fact, there may be nothing more revelatory about your basic spiritual orientation than your practice (or non-practice) of thanksgiving. Why is that? A person either recognizes that God is the source of everything good in his or her life, or that person believes that he or she is the source. There are, in fact, two basic approaches to life. Either I say that I am the source of all that is good; I am a self-made man. Or in thankfulness I say that God is the source of everything good in my life; God is the Creator, God is the giver.

One way to test your relationship with God is to ask yourself how often do you say thank you to God throughout your day? To not often say thank you to God is to live as an atheist.

Why Thankfulness Is Hard For Us

1. The Issue of Entitlement - We Americans are deeply impacted by the view that we have a right to blessing in every realm of life. We see the issue of entitlement revealed when things go wrong in our lives. For many people, the first question that is asked when tragedy, financial problems, or sickness comes their way is, "Why God?" It is incredibly rare for average Americans to ask the question, "Why God?" regarding the good things we experience in life. For us Americans, good things in life are ours by way of entitlement. Have you ever asked God, "Why am I not sick? Why did my car work this morning? Why do people love me? Why have I eaten today? What's going on here that my life is basically working?"

2. The Problem of Greed - Instead of being grateful for what God is giving us now, we are discontented because we want more. Greed is the attitude that says whatever I have from God is not enough. We cannot say thank you for the spouse we have because our particular spouse is not spiritual enough, not affectionate enough, not supportive enough, not thin enough, or not a good enough conversationalist. Our jobs do not provide us with enough pay. Our houses are not large enough. Our clothes are not fashionable enough. Our cars are not comfortable enough. The greedy attitude of "not enough" kills thankfulness.

3. The Problem of Forgetfulness - The Bible continually links the issue of remembering and the issue of thanksgiving together. Sometimes, forgetfulness results from us not tracing things back to the source of all good, namely God.

   A father was walking with his son one day from the bakery. He said, "Son, where did the bread come from?"
   The son said, "The baker."
   "Where did the baker get the bread from?" the father asked.
   "From flour," the son replied.
   "Where did the flour come from?" the father continued.
   "Well, the baker ground some grain and made the flour."
   "Where did the grain come from?"
   "From a farmer."
   "Where did the farmer get the grain?"
   "From God."

Where did you get your intelligence from? Your capacity for hard work? Your children? The teacher who inspired you toward the career you chose? Your freedom to worship? The last breath you drew into your lungs? Do not forget the source of all good gifts-God!

The Need To Practice Thankfulness

Thankfulness is something we have to practice. It is like learning how to play the piano. Just as one has to practice scales over and over again, thanksgiving must be practiced continually. It does not come naturally to self-centered people, who believe that all good things are ours by way of entitlement; who are naturally greedy; or who are forgetful. You know you have practiced the scales of thankfulness long enough when you can play the really difficult melody of "thankfulness in all situations" (Phil. 4:11,12). You have become a skilled giver of thanks when, instead of grumbling and complaining, instead of sinking into self-pity and depression, you are able to give thanks in everything!