Part 2 (2/2)
”Here's your table, sir.”
”Thank you.”
”Here's your menu, sir.”
”Thanks.”
”Here's your coffee, sir.”
”Thanks.”
”More coffee, sir?”
”Thanks.”
But as any waitress will tell you, the number of thanks and the amount of the tip do not necessarily go together. The kind of life-changing heart att.i.tude that G.o.d desires is much deeper than surface verbal grat.i.tude.
THE POWER OF THANKFULNESS.
Even in the often-G.o.dless corporate world, people are waking up to the power of grat.i.tude and discovering that it takes a lot more than free trips and Christmas bonuses for employees to feel appreciated. Recent studies have shown repeatedly that if employees don't feel genuine grat.i.tude from the people that they work for, bonuses are useless. Insincere grat.i.tude doesn't upgrade employee loyalty or productivity. If we are unmoved by perfunctory expressions of grat.i.tude, just imagine how unmoved G.o.d is.
One magazine, Mind and Body, Mind and Body, recently published an article ent.i.tled, ”Twenty Ways to Feel Calmer, Happier, and Healthier” and the number one answer given was ”to be thankful for all the good in your life.” Researchers are recognizing that an att.i.tude of grat.i.tude directed toward G.o.d is a powerful source of health and personal well-being. recently published an article ent.i.tled, ”Twenty Ways to Feel Calmer, Happier, and Healthier” and the number one answer given was ”to be thankful for all the good in your life.” Researchers are recognizing that an att.i.tude of grat.i.tude directed toward G.o.d is a powerful source of health and personal well-being. 1 1 Check out these studies that show the benefits of being thankful to G.o.d and acknowledging Him: Check out these studies that show the benefits of being thankful to G.o.d and acknowledging Him: -- Regarding stress. In a northern California study on stress, nearly seven thousand Californians showed that ”West-Coast wors.h.i.+pers who partic.i.p.ate in church-sponsored activities are markedly less stressed over finances, health, and other daily concerns than non-spiritual types.” 2 2 -- Regarding blood pressure. Elderly folks in a Duke University study on those who attend church, pray, and read the Bible regularly had lower blood pressure than their nonpracticing peers.
-- Regarding recovery from surgery. A second Duke University study looked at patients of faith recovering from surgery. People who have faith and trust and thankfulness toward G.o.d spend an average of eleven days in the hospital after magaanwhile, patients who have no faith-based life at all spend an average of twenty-five days in the hospital recovering from surgery. 3 3 -- Regarding personal lifestyle. A recent review of several studies suggests that spirituality is linked with low suicide rates, less alcohol and drug abuse, less criminal behavior, fewer divorces, and higher marital satisfaction when life is filled with regular thankfulness to G.o.d.
-- Regarding depression. I find this very interesting. Women with believing mothers are 60 percent less likely to be depressed ten years after they leave the home, according to a Columbia University study. Daughters belonging to the same religious faith as their mothers are 71 percent less likely to suffer the blues. Sons are 84 percent less likely to have life crises if they belong to the same faith group as their mothers.
-- Regarding mortality. Research on more than 1,900 older adults indicated that those who attend religious services regularly have a lower mortality rate than who do not. 4 4 Aren't those studies incredible? Even people who don't believe in G.o.d are recognizing that a G.o.d-centered, faith-oriented, thankful life is a healthier, happier life. Further proof of our overall thesis: Those who choose complaining as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. Those who choose complaining as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. By far, the better att.i.tude is grat.i.tude. By far, the better att.i.tude is grat.i.tude.
Test yourself. I dare you!
The word grat.i.tude grat.i.tude is defined in the Oxford Dictionary this way: ”to show that a kindness received is valued.” Genuine grat.i.tude requires that we get past obligation and somehow show that we deeply appreciate what we've received. Here's a test that will help you a.n.a.lyze whether your thankfulness is genuine or obligatory. Think back to the last time you were in church. What was going through your mind as you parked your car, got out, strolled into the building, pa.s.sed through the lobby, picked up a bulletin, and sat down? Truthfully, what was at the center of your heart? Did any of these thoughts enter your mind? is defined in the Oxford Dictionary this way: ”to show that a kindness received is valued.” Genuine grat.i.tude requires that we get past obligation and somehow show that we deeply appreciate what we've received. Here's a test that will help you a.n.a.lyze whether your thankfulness is genuine or obligatory. Think back to the last time you were in church. What was going through your mind as you parked your car, got out, strolled into the building, pa.s.sed through the lobby, picked up a bulletin, and sat down? Truthfully, what was at the center of your heart? Did any of these thoughts enter your mind?
-- What am I going to get today?
-- Am I going to be encouraged?
-- Will I like the pastor's message?
-- Will he keep my attention and make me smile?
-- I wonder who's singing today. Oh, I hope it's not _____ again; she is just awful!
-- Will I be glad I came?
If that kind of thinking was present as you ”prepared” for wors.h.i.+p, it reveals a self-centered, thankless theology that promotes complaining and stifles grat.i.tude. The truth is, if we never received another thing from G.o.d for the rest of our lives, we could still fill each day with genuine grat.i.tude: -- ”Thank You, G.o.d, for this new day.”
-- ”Thank You for life that I can use to serve You.”
-- ”Thank You for breath that I can use to praise You.”
-- ”Thank You for health.”
-- ”Thank You, Lord, for strength.”
But somehow we make the choice to turn from all that we've received and focus on what we still want to have. That's where complaining comes in. We minimize the blessings of life and magnify every negative circ.u.mstance we encounter.
”I can't believe the nursery workers are late again today,” says an upset parent. ”I am sick and tired of this lousy weather,” a college student grouses. The litany of complaints continues: ”Why can't the kids remember to pick up after themselves?” ”n.o.body appreciates me.” We focus on the negative around us, and life becomes a wilderness.
LEVELS OF GRAt.i.tUDE.
Instead, we need to develop our level of grat.i.tude. There are three levels of thankfulness: elementary school grat.i.tude, high school grat.i.tude, and gradue school grat.i.tude. Let's visit these schools of grat.i.tude.
The elementary level teaches us to be thankful in the most basic sense. It instructs us to ”continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G.o.d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” ”continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G.o.d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). (Hebrews 13:15). Elementary school Elementary school is the sacrifice of thankfulness. ”Thanks, G.o.d. There, I've said it, G.o.d, so You should be happy.” In effect, we say to G.o.d, ”Fine! You helped me, and now I said thanks. My obligation has been met; I recognize Your involvement.” Now that's something, but it's not much. As long as thankfulness is just a sacrifice, like, ”Well, I'll do it if I have to, I guess,” you might get to the edge of the Promised Land, but you won't find much joy, and you'll still feel the heat of the wilderness at your back. is the sacrifice of thankfulness. ”Thanks, G.o.d. There, I've said it, G.o.d, so You should be happy.” In effect, we say to G.o.d, ”Fine! You helped me, and now I said thanks. My obligation has been met; I recognize Your involvement.” Now that's something, but it's not much. As long as thankfulness is just a sacrifice, like, ”Well, I'll do it if I have to, I guess,” you might get to the edge of the Promised Land, but you won't find much joy, and you'll still feel the heat of the wilderness at your back.
Level two is a better place. I call it high school thankfulness. ”In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of G.o.d in Christ Jesus concerning you” ”In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of G.o.d in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). In every situation, you and I can always find something to be thankful for-always. We can make that decision. We can look away from what's wrong and focus on what's right and give thanks. ”In (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). In every situation, you and I can always find something to be thankful for-always. We can make that decision. We can look away from what's wrong and focus on what's right and give thanks. ”In every thing every thing give thanks.” That's kind of a high school version of thankfulness, and it does produce joy as long as you're not going through anything too difficult. give thanks.” That's kind of a high school version of thankfulness, and it does produce joy as long as you're not going through anything too difficult.
But if you want the real joy-if you want to be done with the poverty, cheerless, joyless wilderness thing forever, then go on to level three-graduate school thankfulness. Be thankful for all all things. This is beyond the high school thankfulness that searches to find a good aspect in a challenging circ.u.mstance. This is the thankfulness that trusts G.o.d and thus is grateful for the bad things, even the things you wouldn't choose. things. This is beyond the high school thankfulness that searches to find a good aspect in a challenging circ.u.mstance. This is the thankfulness that trusts G.o.d and thus is grateful for the bad things, even the things you wouldn't choose. ”Be filled with the Spirit,...giving thanks always for all things to G.o.d” ”Be filled with the Spirit,...giving thanks always for all things to G.o.d” (Ephesians 5:18, 20 NKJV). (Ephesians 5:18, 20 NKJV).
This is the Mt. Everest of thankfulness, and it promises victory over every circ.u.mstance. Maybe you're reading this with a health crisis or a great sorrow that won't go away. Maybe you've got a financial need. You (and I) need to get to the place by faith where we can say, ”Thank You, G.o.d. This is the thing that You're using in my life. You've allowed it because You love me, and I trust You. Thank You, G.o.d, even for this!” When we allow the Lord to bring us into that kind of thankfulness, we will experience a depth of joy we never thought possible.
POINTS OF VICTORY.
One afternoon, I was running late to pick up my three kids from the Christian school they attend. A lot of things had been going wrong, and I was shuffling down the hallway mumbling under my breath about my top five complaints at that moment. I knew my att.i.tude was wrong, but the negative emotion was very powerful, and I felt a complete inability to shut it off. Of course, I knew that victory was far more than putting a piece of duct tape over my mouth; I knew that something powerful had to replace my stinking thinking.
Just then I looked up and spotted on the wall in front of me a beautifully framed calligraphy of Psalm 107:8. The verse actually is repeated five times in that psalm as G.o.d pleads with us to put off complaining and put on genuine thankfulness. The New King James Version says it really well: ”Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord . . . for His wonderful works to the children of men!” ”Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord . . . for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31). (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31).
The verse was like a knife in my heart. And my subsequent reflection on its truth yielded three specific points of victory.
POINT ONE: THANKFULNESS IS A DECISION.
Thankfulness is a choice that we make. It's just as real as any other decision. The psalmist wrote, ”Oh, that menuld give thanks to the Lord.” the Lord.” By men, of course, he meant men and women-mankind. Notice the verse says By men, of course, he meant men and women-mankind. Notice the verse says would would because if it said because if it said could could -”Oh, that men -”Oh, that men could could give thanks to the Lord”-well, then the ball would be in G.o.d's court, wouldn't it? And we would be free to say things like, ”It's Your fault, G.o.d; if I give thanks to the Lord”-well, then the ball would be in G.o.d's court, wouldn't it? And we would be free to say things like, ”It's Your fault, G.o.d; if I could could give thanks, then I would. If You hadn't made me so negative; if You hadn't made me so selfish; but I am, so I can't, but I would if I could, but You didn't, so I can't, so . . . whatever.” But it doesn't say give thanks, then I would. If You hadn't made me so negative; if You hadn't made me so selfish; but I am, so I can't, but I would if I could, but You didn't, so I can't, so . . . whatever.” But it doesn't say could, could, it says it says would, would, so the choice is ours. so the choice is ours.
”Oh, that men would . . .” This means ”we have the technology”- G.o.d has made us with the capacity to express grat.i.tude. It's a choice that we make. What a critical, happiness-inducing choice it really is! You can choose your att.i.tude of grat.i.tude as much as you can choose your diet or your underwear.
Recently, I spoke to the students, faculty, and staff at Cedarville College (Ohio). In the evenings, I spoke about Jonah. The call to Jonah-and the students-was to stop running from G.o.d and submit to His relentless pursuit. 5 5 It turned out to be an amazing week. G.o.d was working as powerfully as I have ever seen. By Wednesday night, I could hardly wait to get into the wors.h.i.+p center. The place was packed with almost 3,000 eager students, their Bibles open. We sang some songs, and began moving into an att.i.tude of wors.h.i.+p and attentiveness to G.o.d's Spirit.
All of a sudden, the doors flew open, and police officers came running down the aisle. They were dripping wet and in a hurry. Up on the platform they came, with their blaring walkie-talkies and all-business demeanor. They approached the school president who was sitting beside me, so I heard the urgent news. The officer in charge said, ”A tornado is coming this way. You must get the students out of this room as quickly as possible.”
It is heartwarming to watch a great leader in action. The college president walked to the center of the stage and in a calm and clear voice said, ”Students, listen carefully to these instructions. We just received a report that we may be in the path of a tornado. We need to exit the wors.h.i.+p center as quietly and as quickly as possible and take shelter.”
Some kids were screaming and yelling a bit, but a general sense of order prevailed as we were directed into rooms with no exterior walls or windows and told to get down low. We couldn't see what was going on outside, and so we didn't have a sense of how immediate the danger really was. Word eventually came that we could go back upstairs. At that point, I didn't know if they were going to go forward with the service and my message from Jonah 3 on how to experience personal revival.
When we got back into the wors.h.i.+p center, there was a new atmosphere of seriousness among the students. We sang a couple more songs and then I got up to preach.
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