Why Give Thanks In Everything

2 Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Ingratitude is obviously a characteristic of unbelievers. It should not be a characteristic of believers but too often it is.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

That would be a wonderful verse to memorize and live by. Here is the reason we should give thanks in everything: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

When we are not giving thanks in everything we are not completely right with God. When we are not giving thanks we are already in the wrong by being ungrateful. And we are probably in the wrong in many other things. Do we want God*s will or do we want our own will? If we want God*s will, we will always have something to be thankful for. If we want His will we will be right with Him. If we want our own will we will not be right with Him.

If we want our own will, we will often have something to be unthankful for. God*s will is always right and perfect. The will of our flesh is never right and perfect. Do we believe that His will is always right and perfect? Not believing that His will is always right and perfect is an insult to Him. He is always wise enough and powerful enough to get His will done. Do we believe that He is wise and powerful? Doubting those things about Him is sin. He always loves His children. Are you His child? Do you believe that He always loves you? Doubting that He loves us is sin. God is always just (fair). Do you believe that He is always just and fair? Doubting those things about Him is sin.

Are there things in your life that you don*t like and don*t give thanks for? God has put them there. And He has put them there for some reason that you don*t yet know or believe. Perhaps you don*t even want to know the reason. Perhaps you don*t want to give up some sin. If there are things in your life for which you are not grateful, they might be there to chasten you or correct you. We should give thanks for His chastening and correction. We should give thanks in all things, even in the things that our flesh doesn*t want. Or perhaps ESPECIALLY in the things that our flesh doesn*t want. If we are continually ungrateful, we are continually out of His will. If we are not giving thanks in everything, there is definitely something wrong between us and God. When we ARE giving thanks in everything we are right with Him.

The fault is never His. It is always ours. Obeying Him and gratitude always go together. Disobeying Him and ingratitude also always go together. Faith is inseparable from gratitude and unbelief is inseparable from ingratitude.

Luke 22:42b: . . . nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

When we are ungrateful we ought to ask the Lord what it is about Him that we do not know and believe. And we ought to ask Him what sin(s) we are committing along with our ingratitude. When I am complaining I often realize that I am not right with God. How about you?

Care to discuss Why Give Thanks In Everything with Ron?

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