SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: GRATITUDE, THANKFULNESS & CONTENTMENT...

EVERY day is worthy of gratitude; as long as we are here, *GOD* HAS BLESSED us in diverse ways, and yah, I KNOW sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but as we gain understanding, it rings more true to us---

I KNOW firsthand the plight of being impoverished, hungry, cold, and even more, and I also know about having abundantly, and I MUST say, gratitude SHOULD be etched into our beings, for *GOD* IS with us, and DOES provide for us, PLUS, when we are grateful, it keeps us from certain errs, and from being overtaken by situations, and circumstances; in other words, we are protected in the mentality of thankfulness...

Ungrateful people exist in envy, greed, and other mentalities, or behaviours which further ADD to their problems, AND hinder their growth, and advancement! I know SO many people who have a nice existence, but they are VERY envious of those who have it better than them, and they waste LOTS of time wishing, and suffering BECAUSE they don't understand gratitude, or just can't be satisfied. I learned long ago, unless you walk in another person's shoes, you can't know much about them! Just because one SEEMS to have what you would like, DOESN'T mean they are happy, or in possession of that which matters most! I know millionaires who have NO happiness whatsoever, despite their having everything they could want, materially! So, there are endless reasons WHY we ought not be so intent on comparing our existence with that of someone else...

IF we ARE of THE LORD *GOD*, we KNOW HE IS our portion, and that HE DOES BLESS us even more than we are aware of! People measure BLESSINGS by what they have, and don't count all the details involved in their very existence! BLESSINGS are in place from the very fact of having breath, all the way through to the very fibers which comprise the material matters, and food, and water which many of us have! SO much is NOT tangible, or even when it is, it is taken for granted, which is on us, NOT on THE LORD...

In various contexts, all combined, there are hundreds of BIBLICAL references to gratitude, thankfulness, and being content...

LUKE 12: 15-21...
15+++Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16+++And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 
17+++He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18+++“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 
19+++And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20+++“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21+++“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but worldly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion.  

The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul. Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldling while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn is exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity. How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar characters as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connexions with!  

We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a more anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it. It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty, than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, without any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldlings are fools; and the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and they will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable in itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loth to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it, require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity. 

1 TIMOTHY 6: 6-10...
6+++But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7+++For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8+++But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9+++Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10+++For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content.  

When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content. 

We see here the evil of covetousness. It is not said, they that are rich, but they will be rich; who place their happiness in wealth, and are eager and determined in the pursuit. Those that are such, give to Satan the opportunity of tempting them, leading them to use dishonest means, and other bad practices, to add to their gains. Also, leading into so many employments, and such a hurry of business, as leave no time or inclination for spiritual religion; leading to connections that draw into sin and folly. What sins will not men be drawn into by the love of money! People may have money, and yet not love it; but if they love it, this will push them on to all evil. Every sort of wickedness and vice, in one way or another, grows from the love of money. We cannot look around without perceiving many proofs of this, especially in a day of outward prosperity, great expenses, and loose profession.

JAMES 4: 1-10...
1+++What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
2+++You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
3+++When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4+++You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5+++Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
6+++But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
7+++Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8+++Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9+++Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10+++Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Worldly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. 

Here is a decided warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world. Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but enmity never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than lose its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. 

Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, think the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or does the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature which he creates, produce such fruit? Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches us to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able. The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. 

The proud resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resist the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud. How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy! 

God will give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it. Submit to God, ver. 7. Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your wills to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submit yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. 

If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Let sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resisting the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or, hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himself before him.

CHRIST JESUS IS KING OF KINGS; HE IS ROYALTY ABOVE ALL ROYALTY; yet, HE came to Earth, existing in poverty, in need, in want; as HIS Disciples/Apostles also did! THIS WAS for sound reason, and principle! #1, the Jews did NOT accept HIM because HE appeared to them as a pauper, albeit HIS REGAL NATURE WAS evident; #2, there were/are DIVINE lessons FOR HIS people to gather from HIS HOLY example of RELIANCE ON THE FATHER, gratitude, thankfulness, and on the lessons go! We FORGET that it IS HE, WHOM we ARE to pattern ourselves after, and to BECOME as much like, as is feasible, and don't you know, there are endless layers, and levels of knowledge involved?! We CANNOT simply think, or say, we HAVE to align, adhere, and DO!!!

We are in the season of THANKSGIVING, though EVERY day IS WORTHY of PRAISE, and gratitude! Let us ever study TO KNOW more, THAT we ARE always inching closer TO THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and OUR TRUTH! PRAISE THE LORD, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us, HONOUR HIM in all ways, all of your days, LOVE AS HE HAS LOVED, PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY, and GIVE THANKS IN ALL YOU THINK, SAY, OR DO!!!

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS