Letting others know by my words and actions
how they have benefited my life
vs. Unthankfulness
I WILL:
Show others that I appreciate them;
Write thank you notes;
Take care of my things;
Be content with what I have;
Count my benefits rather than my burdens.
Used with permission of Character Training Institute
www.characterfirst.com
Gratefulness is expressing sincere appreciation to God and to others for the ways they have benefited my life. (Power for True Success)
GRATEFULNESS TO GOD Because every good gift comes from God (I Thessalonians 5:18) our ultimate gratefulness needs to be toward God. Look up the following scriptures and look for insights about when, how, and why to thank God:
Deuteronomy 8:10-18: gratefulness expresses our realization that it is God that gives us the ability to be productive, not the “strength of my hands.” How do we show our gratefulness? (by praise and obedience)
I Chronicles 16:7-36: When David brought the ark of the covenant (representing the presence of God) back to Jerusalem, he set up a grand parade and first commissioned the “worship team” of Asaph & Co. to use his composition. What idea begins and ends this psalm? As you read through it, see what we are to thank God for and in what ways?
Psalm 50:14: How can “thank offerings” be a sacrifice? How can we give this sacrifice to God?
Psalm 100:4,5: thankfulness should be a mark of our public worship. Why? (Because of God’s goodness, love, and faithfulness)
Psalm 107: this psalm describes a number of scenarios and ends each with encouragement to “give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” List the circumstances in the psalm that are reasons for gratefulness to God. Or look at each scenario and relate it to a modern day instance. Perhaps each of the members of your family or cell could write a short description of a time in his/her life that could end with the same injunction to gratefulness.
Romans 1: 21-23: What is a characteristic of people and a society who are rejecting God? What was the result?
Ephesians 5:19-20: How does music help us express our gratefulness to God? How extensive is our gratefulness to be? (for everything)
Philippians 4:6: How can gratefulness be an antidote for anxiety and depression? Do our prayers focus enough on thanking God?
Colossians 1:12-13: God the Father has qualified you through Jesus to share in a marvelous inheritance. What did He rescue you from and deliver you to?
Colossians 2:6-7: Why should we “overflow” with thankfulness? What degree of thankfulness does this picture?
Colossians 3:15-17: In what ways in these verses are we to show thankfulness to God?
I Thessalonians 5:16-18: Why can we be thankful even in dire circumstances?
I Timothy 4:1-4: What were the characteristics of “later times”? What are to be marks of Christians in these days? (thanksgiving, Word of God, and prayer)
Hebrews 12:28-29: What is one way we can “worship God acceptably”? God is the One to whom we can be eternally grateful!
So many Psalms give praise and thankfulness to God. Begin each cell meeting or a meal at home by having one family or person come prepared with a psalm of thankfulness, then have them read it as a prayer that the whole group can enter in.
A family could take each of these Bible people, read about them, and learn about gratefulness in the lives of real people of history. Look up these Bible people and see if they were grateful or ungrateful and what we can learn about gratefulness from their examples:
Chief cupbearer: In Genesis 40, Joseph correctly interprets the dream of the king’s imprisoned cupbearer. What is Joseph’s request in verses 14-15? How does the cupbearer respond when the dream is fulfilled (verse 23)? Grateful people realize that others have been influential in the successes we have. How do we respond when someone does something for us? Do we remember to show gratefulness? What are ways that we can express gratefulness?
Israelites: Gideon had delivered the Israelites from the tyranny of the Midianites, but as soon as he died, the Israelites began to worship idols again. What was their second great wrong (Judges 8:35)? The following chapter tells the story of the curse that came upon them. Why is gratefulness is to be shown, not just to the person, but to their families?
Ruth: How does Boaz show his gratefulness for what Ruth did? How does Ruth show gratefulness to Boaz for his generosity to her? (2:8-13) Some practical ways we can show gratefulness: tell, write a letter, public recognition, gifts, spending time, inform them of your prayers for them (Power for True Success, p. 104).
David: II Samuel gives two examples of David wanting to show gratefulness to a son because of what his father had done. In chapter 9, the gratefulness was accepted and led to blessing; in chapter 10, his gratefulness was misinterpreted, leading to a war. How do we respond to another’s gratefulness?
Nehemiah: (12:27-47) Notice the great plan and preparation for giving thanks to God. How did the Israelites express it?
Israel: Ezekiel 16:9-19 tells of God’s gifts being used selfishly and in sinfulness. What actions show gratefulness to God for his gifts?
Daniel: In Daniel 6 jealous members of the king’s staff trapped Daniel by getting the king to make a law that everyone must pray to only him; the penalty for disobedience was being thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel kept his regular prayer time to God, what two elements are mentioned? (Verses 10-11). What do you think he thanked God for when he was in such dire circumstances?
Poor, wise man: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 tells of a besieged city saved by a poor but wise man. What was the response of the people? Are we as citizens quick to forget the people that have helped us? Who are we to heed? Which is better: wisdom or strength? How can we show our gratefulness to those who help our community and country?
Jesus: There was only one little boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fishes to feed the entire crowd of 5,000 that came to hear Jesus. What did Jesus do with the bread and fish in verse 19? What was the result? What do you think your prayer would have been that day? Do you think we often miss the miraculous, multiplied blessing of God because we are not grateful for what we already have?
10 lepers: In Luke 17:11-17, how many were healed? How many expressed gratefulness? How did the grateful leper show it? Are you quick to take the time and effort to express gratefulness? How can you do it?
People of Malta: when Paul was shipwrecked and escaped to the island of Malta in Acts 28, he helped the people by healing their sick. How did they show their gratefulness in verse 10? How did three Christian men later encourage Paul when he was on his way to Rome (verse 15)? How can we show our gratefulness and encourage those who are our spiritual leaders?
Paul: In most of Paul’s letters, he begins by telling the Christians how he always thanks God for them. Some of these churches gave Paul a lot of problems, but he still could be grateful for them. Look up these greetings and see what Paul is grateful for: Romans 1: 8, I Corinthians 1:4-6; Ephesians 1:15; Philippians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:3-4; I Thessalonians 1:2-3; II Thessalonians 1:3-4; II Timothy 1:3,4; Philemon 4. Who would you like to thank God for? Why? Practice thanking God for those who have blessed your Christian walk.
1. All comes from God’s hand: James 1:17, I Thessalonians 5:18; I Timothy 4:4. Study the examples of Job (Job 1:21) and Paul (II Corinthians 12:7-10).
2. All things are for our good: Romans 8:18, 28, Hebrews 12:9-11
3. All things produce Godly character: Romans 8:29, James 1:2-4
4. Produces genuine love: Romans 5:3-5
5. Brings us closer to God: Psalm 119:67-76; Psalm 50:14-15
THANKSGIVING: November is a great month to emphasize gratefulness as we prepare and celebrate Thanksgiving. Do a little research in books such as The Light and the Glory to see the background and difficulties of the Pilgrims that led up to the first Thanksgiving. They were above all grateful to God, but also to the Indians who had helped them.
AN IMPORTANT SKILL: Teach family members the
social skill of expressing gratitude. Think of a real situation where
gratefulness should be given, then discuss as a group three or four steps to
showing gratitude. For example: (1) face the person, (2) look the person in the
eye, (3) say "Thank you," (4) continue by saying "I appreciate
that you ____________" and explain why you are grateful. Also practice writing
real thank you notes: address the person by name, name specifically what you
are thanking them for, and tell how it has been a benefit to you or how it has
blessed you. Continue to require thank you notes be written for gifts, special
service, etc.
GRATEFULNESS OPENS THE DOOR: The Roman lawyer Cicero once wrote,
"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, it is the parent of all other
virtues." Discuss what you think he meant. Look at the 49 qualities in the
pocket folder and see how gratefulness opens the eyes and the spirit to develop
other character qualities.. Why is gratitude the basis for those virtues? In
the IBLP Basic Seminar, gratefulness is also one of the four necessary attitudes
of a person under authority. Review that material and see why giving your
expectations to God is necessary to develop gratefulness. How would
gratefulness lead to success?
CHARACTER SKETCHES: Volume 3 of Character Sketches has a unit on Gratefulness, four sections with each having an example from nature and an applicable Bible story. This would provide a month’s worth of family Biblical studies and great science, while building character. The following sections expand gratefulness:
Helps developed by Deanna J. Guy