By: Gen. Jim — 5/28/19
The British writer G.K. Chesterton once called gratitude “The mother of all virtues,” something most of us are short on! If anyone was grateful it was Paul (formerly Saul, the murderer of Christians). He found mercy and grace in the very Christ he persecuted (through Christ’s people): “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church (N.T. Ekklesia) in Jerusalem… Saul RAVAGED the church…” (Acts 8:1-3). “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The full verse says, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” V.16 and 17 says, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” REJOICE! PRAY! Give THANKS!! You mean even for the harsh and unloving things said and done to us? Yep! That’s what it says.
The opposite of gratitude is ingratitude. Some theologians believe that ingratitude is the root of evil, and is always accompanied by other sins. Think about this. When we become ungrateful, doubt, unbelief, fear, scorn, etc. etc. sprout and grow. Needless to say, our spiritual garden (see Galatians 5:22-23) begins to look like a weed patch. Our hearts are like the garden of God in Song of Solomon: “Awake, O north wind (cold adversity!!), and come, O south wind! (Warm and pleasant). Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my Beloved (Christ) come to His garden, and eat its choicest fruits” (SOS 4:16). Ingratitude causes the garden of God to deteriorate, the fruits are not ripe but sour – some rot. The Bridegroom is faithful to supply all we need to cultivate gratitude. Praying, humbling ourselves (one has to do a lot of stooping in garden work), being grateful for both north and south winds.
We may find ourselves overworked at times because we failed to weed out the undesirables, the rodents, the pests etc. that destroy gardens/orchards. Even the weather can destroy our crops.
The Psalms are full of praise and thanksgiving, even in the midst of trials and tribulations and wars. We can ascend out of the pit of ingratitude unto the realm of gratitude – from the mundane to the beatific, i.e. joy… from weakness to puissance (power/strength). Ingratitude is a soporific evil, causing neglect, spiritual slumber, hence, we become lethargic farmers (read 1 Chronicles 29:11,13 where David mentions the words greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, thanks, praise and glorious. (MEV Bible).
If we learn to practice praise and thanksgiving, we would find our inner (heart) garden flourishing). I catch myself grumbling (here in prison) which makes things worse, not better.
One well known minister who died some years ago used to go off his T.V. program with these words (of good advice): “Feed you faith and starve your doubts to death!”
