Romans 1:21 (ESV) 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
This passage diagnosed the real heart problem that beset Adam and Eve and the whole of fallen humanity. It is one that is at the heart of every sin of man, ingratitude. Some would say that the issue at the fall was pride. Here, in this passage in Romans pride is given its proper name, ingratitude. To have an unthankful spirit is relational pride. It is to say that my relation with God and others is based in entitlement, “I deserve such and such.”. It most often surfaces in a complaining and a critical spirit with our Savior and our relationships with others. We did not get what we expected and we define love by perceived blessings. What is remarkably sad, is that we are most often blind to our ungrateful spirit toward God as well as others.
True thankfulness for the believer is rooted in the Gospel. An act completed in the past with no regard to our worthiness, just His immeasurable grace and mercy (unconditional election) (Ephesians 1:17-19). We have been and are recipients of our Lord’s attention every moment of our lives (Acts 17:28).
Frankly, it is easy to become ungrateful. It is ingrained in our fleshly DNA to take life for granted. What was once unexpected soon becomes expected. We forget so easily that the hand of God in our lives is His providential care and His gracious love for us not a reward for our service or obedience.
I also wonder sometimes if our words of thanks in prayer are more like “filler,” a way to get on a roll or extend our prayers before we ask for something. Are they truly the heart felt words of a grateful child of God, who sees himself or herself as a debtor to the manifold riches of Christ (Ephesians 1:18)? This is really at the heart of the Gospel for the believer (Ephesians 1:7).
Another area that can expose an ungrateful heart is our response to suffering, and/or negative situations and even tragedy. It becomes the crucible of truth about our faith or unbelief. The great Puritan commentator, Matthew Henry, is reported to have written in his journal the day after being robbed: “Let me be thankful. First, because I was never robbed before. Second, because although he took my money, he did not take my life. Third, because although he took all I possessed, it was not much. Fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.” There was no doubt a great struggle in his heart as he wrestled with the reality of what had happened to him, but in that situation, he saw God’s providence and in his fourth point, God’s grace in his life.
One of the most disturbing aspects of ingratitude for me is that it exposes unholiness in my life (2Timothy 3:2). It’s not just an emotional response and a response of unbelief, but one that speaks of alienation. No wonder the command to always be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
-Michael Holtzinger