Thankfulness | Week 4 | The Blessed Life Series
Have we traded thankfulness for entitlement?
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. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, ~ Romans 1:21-22 NASB1995
Entitlement will fool us into thinking that God owes us and is working for us, instead of the other way around.
46 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” ~ Luke 9:46-48 NASB1995
Thankfulness always involves a posture of humility. If I believe I am owed something, I will not be thankful for it because I think I’m entitled to it. So Its impossible to be thankful when we feel entitled.
Entitlement flows from the mindset or posture that we’re not receiving what we deserve.
Thankfulness comes from the mindset or posture that we’ve received more than we deserve.
Have we traded thankfulness for entitlement?
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. ~ Psalm 100:4-5 NASB1995
When we give thanks unto Him and bless His name for the Lord is good we become thankful and can’t even begin to feel entitled
His lovingkindness is everlasting – meaning there is nothing you can do where I will stop loving you.
The overflowing expression of thankfulness to our God lets people know that God is alive and real.
Have we traded thankfulness for entitlement?
9 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 NIV
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV
God is not looking for tithes, offerings, and gifts that are given reluctantly, or under compulsion, but he is looking for a heart of thankfulness and our giving.
Have we traded thankfulness for entitlement?
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ~ Philippians 2:5-8 NASB1995
Have we traded thankfulness for entitlement?
Words of Knowledge
We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who has scarring on their lungs.
We believe the Lord wants to heal someone who has been suffering from pain in one or both of their eyes.