The first thing about gratitude is that we need to acknowledge that ingratitude is more prevalent among Christians than we would care to acknowledge.
The first thing about gratitude is that we need to acknowledge that ingratitude is more prevalent among Christians than we would care to acknowledge. Jesus noticed ingratitude and asked three questions, in this sequence: “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18, NIV)
More than 500 years ago, Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, described ingratitude as the deadliest sin because it is the cause, the beginning and the origin of all evils and sins. If l were to ask 100 people to name the sin that’s the origin of all evils, l’ll bet none of them would say ingratitude. They would say pride or disobedience or greed or anger. The idea that we sin because we’re not sufficiently aware of God’s goodness probably wouldn’t occur to too many people. But we have been struggling with ingratitude from the beginning of time. A lack of thankfulness lay at the root of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God in the garden. We even see this lack of gratitude in our own lives: In our natural, fallen state since birth, we don’t naturally give thanks. No babies will ever start to say, “Thank You” on their own. Gratitude has to be taught to our children from young.
What are two major gratitude busters we face daily as we battle to reclaim the gratitude jewel as Christ’s disciples? First, it is the spirit of entitlement. Peter Maiden, in his book Radical Gratitude, warned us against a false teaching in the church today that supports entitlement thinking. This teaching advocates what has become known as the prosperity gospel or Word of Faith movement, claiming that we are entitled to health and wealth; according to the movement, we receive them by faith, as they are part of the package of our salvation. But Jesus warned us in the parable of the vineyard workers, in Matthew 20, that some of the workers who worked earlier felt entitled for more than those who worked later. When we compare and feel we deserve more, we will feel ungrateful. Entitlement leads to discontentment, which give birth to envy and jealousy.
The second major gratitude buster is when we doubt God’s goodness, especially when we go through trials and sufferings. Whenever we doubt God’s goodness, we will usually go down the path of doubting God and whether He is indeed sovereign, when He does not seem to answer all our prayers. Jesus forewarned us, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV). We are exhorted to rejoice always, pray continuously and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Of course, we are not asked to give thanks for all circumstances. Notice that there is a big difference between in all circumstances and for all circumstances. We don’t give thanks for cancer, deadly diseases or evil deeds done to us. But we give thanks to God for the way He comforts, sustains and remains with us through those trials. Often, we can only understand that sufferings can be God’s pathway for refining us to be more Christlike (James 1:2-4). But even if we do not understand, we can continue to trust in God’s goodness and give Him thanks in our hearts, solely based on the knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us.
As one of the missing jewels of Christian discipleship, gratitude can begin to bud and grow into a mature fruit. It can be difficult to practice, but there is no other way to develop it in our hearts than to make a deliberate choice of cultivating it as a habit. And as we develop this godly habit, it can pervade everything we do; we can only imagine the joy we experience and the praise of God that will result. Gratitude cannot be left to the mercy of our emotions. God commands us as His people to give Him praise and thanks, an exhortation that runs throughout the Bible.
Here are 10 simple suggestions as to how we can begin to practice gratitude:
- Wake up each morning with a gratitude prayer to God for being alive for another new day.
- Keep a gratitude journal and write down three things, people or situations you are thankful for each day.
- Make gratitude phone calls.
- Write gratitude WhatsApp messages.
- Write gratitude letters.
- Give gratitude gifts.
- Give gratitude time (i.e., spending time to tell someone why you are grateful for his or her input into your life, which has helped you grow as a disciple of Christ).
- Host gratitude meals and ask everyone to share what they are grateful for in their lives.
- Share and write gratitude stories as a legacy to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
- Give gratitude offerings to the Lord.
If we endeavor to implement these basic practices, this virtue of gratitude will transform us from diamonds in the rough to polished gems, most resplendent for our very own King’s crown.
Article originally published December 2022.
Albert Teh has been part of OM since 1975 when he was one of the founding members of OM in Malaysia, his home country. He has also served as a board member since 1990, and as board chairman since 2014. Albert is passionate about being a spiritual friend to different groups of fellow pilgrims including the next generation. Albert and his wife Poh Gaik are blessed with three sons. Together with their spouses and five grandchildren, the Teh Family now has 13 members and still counting. Albert has a degree in Bachelor of Science with Education (Hons) from University Malaya and is Chairman of Loongsyn Sdn. Bhd., a fertiliser manufacturer and distribution company in Sabah. From 1980 to 2000, he served in various lay leadership positions in St. Patrick’s Anglican Church in Tawau, as a standing committee member of Sabah Anglican Diocese and also as a member of the first Anglican Province of Southeast Asia.