Text:
Psalm 145:14-21
November 25, 2012.
INTRODUCTION:
1)
They were just too used to it: Dr. Joe Stowell, a former
president of the renowned Moody Bible Institute, wrote about his negligence on
the beauty of his hometown. He said that he was surprised to learn about the
selection of his hometown Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan as
the winner of ¡°The Most Beautiful Place in America¡± by Good Morning America viewers in 2011. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this winning
location is just right there in my backyard. That reminded me of the time when
my wife and I visited the Niagara Falls. A man nearby watched our tourist
behavior and quipped, ¡°Ain¡¯t nothin¡¯ to it. I see it
everyday.¡±
2)
We are just too used to it as well: How easily we grow dulled and accustomed to
our surroundings, as beautiful as they are, and to the blessing of the Lord, as
abundant as they have been, that once brought great joy and delights to our
hearts. But slowly all these had become ¡°as usual¡± and we lose our feeling of
being blessed and thankful. We take it for granted on what we have and stop
enjoying the blessings with thanksgiving. It is easy to lose our joy in living
in God¡¯s grace, enjoying the provisions God has given, the abundant love He
shows us each and everyday. Too often, we don¡¯t even realize his presence with
us each and everyday in our daily endeavor and needs. Isn¡¯t it sad that while
many others admire what we have but we just feel ¡°nothing special¡± with God,
people and things we have.
WHY ARE WE NOT EXCITED?
1)
You forgot how little you had then: Every morning when I come to this beautiful
church complex, the well kept land-scaping, the green
lawn, colorful flowers, trees lining around the property, the beautiful
building and my spacious office, I always feel excited, happy and grateful. I
think it is like come to work in a garden. This is so because I always remember
how little we used to have as a church on Stratford
Road some 20 years ago. I also remember how simple and small my so call office
was. In fact it was only half of a storage area with only a desk and a chair
and a window unit a/c humming all the time over my head. (See pictures in the
hallway and you know what I am talking about) If you remember how little you
used to have and compare to what you have now, you will be very thankful.
2)
Not happy with what you have now. If I go to visit Bellevue Church to see
their grand entrance like a 5-star hotel. And see the grand style staircase and
the half-million-dollar chandelier hanging from a 45 feet high ceiling. And I
will also see the life-size oil painting of their pastors outside their
gigantic worship center and the glamorous stage with all the glittering
decoration. Then come back to our church and try to compare the two, it is
highly possible that I will feel dejected, small and even sad. If you compare
whatever you have, your house, cars, job, income, husband, children and their
performance and the level of their success with those who have more, achieved
higher, etc. it is hard or impossible to feel happy and excited.
3)
We are too used to what we have: Remember how excited you were when you bought your
first new car some 20 years ago or this new car you brought just 3 years ago?
Do you still have the same excitement on them? The answer is ¡°NO¡±. Right? Do
you know why? You may say why should I? They are old things. How can I hold
that same excitement so long? You hit it right: we lose that good feeling or
excitement of things after a while and that includes people as well. That is
why marriages once happy, bright and vibrant had faded into just routine in a
few years. We get used to enjoy the same good things too long and lose that
excitement and appreciation.
4)
We want more than we can do: Some 25 years ago, a family migrated to America
from China, stayed with their brother who had been in this country 15 years
earlier. Seeing the brother¡¯s family and what they had, the sister made a vow:
We will be like you in 10 years. But 25 years later, what she had hoped for
didn¡¯t happen and she is wearing out of her energy and hope and became bitter
of what she has. If we always feel we deserve much more than what we already
have, life cannot be happy.
WHAT CAN AN UNGRATEFUL HEART
DO?
1)
It can wipe out joy in your heart: If you are ungrateful for all the blessings
of God and others pour on you, you won¡¯t have the joy of enjoying all the
blessings. The Quality of joy doesn¡¯t rest on how much you have; it depends on
how you feel about what you have. If you are not grateful to God and all others
who made it possible for what you have, it is very difficult, if not
impossible, to have joy in your heart.
2)
It can discredit the value of achievement: We know that nothing will
drop on your lap from the sky without opportunity God provides and hard work
you put in. When you are unhappy on what you have achieved, it automatically
discredits the good work God and you have put into your life. You can do little
or nothing when others don¡¯t give you credit for your hard work and the
achievements you have won, but when you discredit yourself, it really wipes out
the value of your life and work.
3)
It can create anger on God and people: When you are unhappy in what you have done,
you discredits blessings God bestows on you and all the kindness and assistance
others extended to you to help you succeed. Some may even get angry with God
and people whom they suppose to be grateful of. Some blame God of being unfair.
Others blame people not being generous or more helpful. Their relationship with
God and people will sink. Instead of searching for their shortcoming, they
generate anger against God and others.
4)
It can hurt our quality of life: ¡°A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed
spirit dries up the bones.¡± (Prov. 17:22) A grateful
heart is the fountain of a happy life, doesn¡¯t matter how much or little one
may have. This has a direct effect on our relationship with people around us.
Many otherwise good and vibrant relationships were broken because we just take
it for granted on what we have: that includes people, family and friends. An
ungrateful and unhappy heart also hurts our health condition. It hurts the
quality of sleep, our appetite on taste of food, our digestion system and our
heart function.
A FRESH LOOK AT GOD¡¯S BLESSINGS: (Psalm 145:14-21)
1)
God holds us up when we were stricken down: ¡°The Lord upholds those
who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.¡± (145:14)All of us have
experience of being stricken down in our pursuit of life: at home, in school,
at work, in relationship, in career or business pursuits, etc. When we were
down and out, God is the surest support who will come and hold us up. Do you
still remember those days when you needed help the most but no one was there
for you except God. Even Paul had those heartbreaking experiences. ¡°At my first
defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. Only the Lord
stool at my side.¡± (2 Timothy 4:16-17)
2)
God provided needs when we had nothing: ¡°The eyes of all look to
you and you gave them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and
satisfy the desires of every living thing.¡± (145:15-16) Some may think that
giving credit to God for his provision is not spiritual, but even Jesus
included the provision of need from God in his model prayer. Too often we
forget how God¡¯s gracious provision in our lean days when we are in abundance.
We always need to be thankful to God for his blessings in providing our
material needs.
3)
God answers our prayers in time of trouble: ¡°The Lord is near to all
who call on him. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their
cry and saves them.¡± (145:18-19) Do you remember those desperate times when you
have no one but God you can call for help? Do you still remember that thankful
heart you had when God answered your prayers and gave you your hearts¡¯ desires?
Do you remember that the only light your have in those darkest nights is the
lifeline of prayer between you and God and He delivered you from despair beyond
your power? If you do, you have plenty to be thankful of.
4)
God deserves your thankful heart: ¡°My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.¡± (145:21) If you are
good in giving thanks to people, those who have helped you in your journey of
life. And to those who had done good thing to you and for you; those who had
extended support to you and held you up when you were weak. Then you have more
reasons to thank God all year round, particularly at the Thanksgiving time for
all He had done for you and to you. If you are humble and realistic, you won¡¯t
make it to where you are and what you have without the grace, love, generosity
and benevolence of the Almighty God.
CONCLUSION:
1)
Do the right thing at the right time. We all agree the importance of do the right
thing at the right time in practical life situation. The best of all the right
things we may do is to give thanks to God for all his blessings, provisions,
guidance, protection and answers of our prayers. To God be all the glory in the
earth and in our lives.
2)
Do the right thing to the right persons: This is about giving
thanks to those who had extended their love, support, comfort and good will in
your life journey. Remember you won¡¯t make it to this day without them. Find a
way to express your thankful heart and make known to them you will never forget
what they have done to you.