The Power of Thankfulness: Overcoming Ingratitude

Can gratitude truly revolutionize your life in a world brimming with comparison and ingratitude? Join us as we explore this profound question, unraveling the transformative power of thankfulness in the age of social media. Through patience, support, and kindness, we can shift from self-centeredness to a spirit of joy and gratitude, finding peace in all circumstances.

We dive into the emotional turmoil triggered by constant comparison, exploring how feelings of inadequacy can fracture relationships and dampen spiritual vitality. This episode invites you to confront and overcome ingratitude, fostering a thankful heart that appreciates the present and trusts in a greater plan for fulfillment and satisfaction.

As we encourage you to practice thankfulness intentionally, this episode compels you to express gratitude to those around you, cultivating a spirit of appreciation that enriches every aspect of life.

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:13

A young lady was scrolling through social media where friends posted pictures of their travels, new jobs or perfect meals, right. So this is about the time that we are living in today. Instead of feeling happy for them, this person begins to feel inadequate, focusing on what she does not have, like a new car, like others had An exciting job that the other person was blessed and a vibrant social life. No lights, right, no thumbs up ups, no hearts. So this this person gets really discouraged. Rather than appreciating her own achievements and blessings, she becomes consumed by comparison, leading to feelings of discontent and ingratitude for her own life. This person, caught up in the social media, saw so much happening in others' lives she did not realize all the blessings she had for herself and she gets discouraged and she starts to compare. And she gets discouraged and she starts to compare. This explains how easy it is to fall into the trap of ingratitude. Please listen to me very carefully. It's easy to fall into this trap of ingratitude, especially in the age of social media. We can forget to celebrate our own journeys while being preoccupied with others' highlighted reels Caught up in so much that is happening around the people's life, what they are doing, what they are eating. We seldom don't appreciate what we have and we have developed ingratitude in our lives.

Speaker 1 2:06

I want to read the scripture from 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5. If you have your Bibles, please open your Bibles. If you don't have one, we encourage you to please carry a physical Bible to church that we all can study and learn the Word of God. So 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses from 12 to 18, I want you to see this what the scripture says. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord, admonishing you. So the Bible is very clear in this aspect. I'm reading this because it's in the context, and I want to start out with this Urge you, brethren, is calling to the church to recognize those who labor among you, those who work for you.

Speaker 1 3:04

So he's talking about your pastor. He's talking about the church to recognize those who labor among you, those who work for you. So he's talking about your pastor. He's talking about your life group leader. He's talking about your you know mentor. He's talking about somebody who's above you, trying to help you, trying to stand with you, trying to guide you, trying to nurture you. Whoever it is, my friend, the Bible is talking about brothers, church. Recognize those who labor among you and over you in the Lord. Especially, he's talking about somebody who's helping you spiritually, somebody who's helping you grow more stronger in God, somebody who's guiding you in prayer. Acknowledge them, recognize them, have a heart of gratitude, not an attitude of ingratitude. Attitude of ingratitude, the reason being all your life group leaders, your mentors and your pastors have been placed by God and the time has come.

Speaker 1 4:04

Bible says in in this passage, in this key text please recognize them verse 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Church, are you all okay? Say uh-huh? I said church, are you all okay? Uh-huh, what the scripture says esteem them very highly in love. So, if you have a pastor over your life, if you have a mentor over your life, if you have a mentor over your life, if you have somebody who is guiding you, either spiritually or otherwise, the Bible says esteem them. My friend, that is the will of God for you, and I will read the scripture. You will try. You will understand how it is connected for your growth, for your blessing, and how we need to have a heart of gratitude. Amen.

Speaker 1 5:04

Who work out? Now verse 14 onwards. This is the scripture we are looking at Now. We exhort you, brethren Warn those who are unruly. Comfort the faint hearted. Uphold the weak, be patient with all. This is the call for all the church members, not just pastors. What does the Bible say? Right, brethren? Again it's talking about warn those who are unruly. Warn them. If there's anybody unruly, comfort the faint-hearted. If you're weak in your heart and you're struggling with your life, comfort them. What the Bible says Uphold the weak, be patient with all. Amen. Are you patient or patient? Two different words, english is a little difficult. You have patience, you are patient, or you will become a patient one day. If you don't have patience, be patient with awe. Amen.

Speaker 1 6:12

Verse 15. So that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourself and for all. Don't just think about yourself. It's not about just about yourself. Christianity is not just thinking about yourself, about your well-being. Christianity is all about thinking about others. Just think about Christ. He did not think about himself. Think about the Father God. He just did not think about himself. They thought about us. That's why Father God sent his only son. Amen. So it's all about others, my friend.

Speaker 1 6:53

Then verse 16, the famous scripture passage Rejoice always. Somebody say it with me. Rejoice Not being sad by the way. Put a big smile on your face and say rejoice. How many times I said how many times always. Now we're going to study on this quickly. Pray without ceasing. Amen In everything.

Speaker 1 7:24

Come on, can you see the scripture In everything, in good things, in bad things, when you are going through hard times, when you get increment, when you get a job, when you get a business breakthrough? Give thanks in everything. Why, in Christ Jesus for you, in the NIV this is the New King James Version In NIV, the Bible, the scripture, says because this is the will of God for you. What is the will of God for you? What is the will of God for you, my friend? Give thanks in everything that is the will of God for you, not only when everything is going great, not only when you are just in good health and everything is fine, even when you are not keeping well, even when you are not doing well. Let's have a heart of thankfulness. Amen, amen.

Speaker 1 8:33

So the title of the message for today is the power of thankfulness. Thankfulness overcoming ingratitude. Are you all okay? The power of thankfulness overcoming ingratitude. It's a very uncomfortable subject. Right Of talking about ingratitude. It's a very difficult subject, but we all need to learn to overcome the ingratitude in our lives, if there is any. It's easy to overlook the many blessings we receive daily, allowing discomfort and bitterness to take root in our hearts. We don't see what is there already in us, but we are always looking outside and wanting more and get discontent and dissatisfied with our lives. So I have my disclaimer here.

Speaker 1 9:36

When I'm talking about thanks, thanksgiving, the word Bible talks about as gratitude, and when we are talking about unthankful, the word the Bible uses is ingratitude. So time and again, these words get exchanged interchangeably. So when we read the scriptures I want you to please follow, we will understand ingratitude and its consequences, highlighting the importance of remembering and appreciating the blessings we have already received from God and people around us. Quickly, a short note Ingratitude is a disease and no amount of kindness can cure it. Somebody said like this it's like a disease. Somebody said like this it's like a disease. Unthankfulness is like a disease and nobody can cure it.

Speaker 1 10:35

I read the scripture in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5. Give thanks in all circumstances. Have an attitude of thankfulness, thanking for everything that you have in your life. Maybe there's something that is not there, that you long to have, but that's probably bothering you. But be encouraged and strengthened, my friend, to have a heart of gratitude wherever you are right now, in whatever situation you are in.

Speaker 1 11:12

The scripture passage that I just read reminds us that gratitude is not just a response to good times. Gratitude is not just a response to good times. It's a continuous practice that shapes our spiritual lives. That's why Paul said give thanks in everything and rejoice always, not at circumstance, not at certain situations and time zones. Quickly, let's understand in gratitude. We live in a world that constantly bombards us with information about what we should have, whether it is material possessions, success or recognition. Social media is telling you right, how you, how you must behave. If you are in certain fraternity, you know a musician or worship leader or a businessman, you know the coaches will stand up and they will tell you do like this and you want to be like them. You are in the journey to make that happen in your life.

Speaker 1 12:13

Ingratitude often stems from comparison and expectations that are not met. How does ingratitude come? Ingratitude comes out from comparisons. When you're comparing yourselves to the others, your peers, you're comparing, or maybe above you, maybe below you, because sometimes they are up even though they are below you. In many ways, you see, their position may be totally different and you get really discouraged and there are expectations that are not met. How many of you are seated? Your expectations are not met, I guess many of us. We all pray for many things, we all desire for many things, we all work for some things in life and sometimes our expectations are not met. What happens during the course of time is we get really callous and we have ingratitude that is being built into us. Comparison can lead us to focus on what we lack rather than appreciating what we have. Stop comparing yourself with others. That is not the will of God for you, my friend. That is not. What are the consequences of ingratitude? Ingratitude can have dire consequences Emotional distress.

Speaker 1 13:45

Right Once you see somebody's post, you know they've gone overseas and they, you know the scenery is so beautiful with the beach, and you know the scenery is so beautiful with the beach and you know walking across. And then where did they go? How did they get the money, you know, and we are all trying to work out. And then the next thing comes why am I not going? Why am I still sitting? I've never had a holiday in my life. Look at those people. They're having holiday after holiday.

Speaker 1 14:18

Emotional distress it hits you so badly, my friend. You get caught up and you want to do certain things in life that probably is not there at the moment for you. The next one quickly broken relationships because of ingitude. We annihilate those who care for us. We are not thankful enough for the people around us who are standing by us, who are helping us, supporting us. Our relationship gets broken Spiritual lethargy, spiritual lethargy. Spiritually, you are not connected with God because God not connected with people, not connected with church, the reason being you take everything for granted. Everything is there, it should be there. I'm privileged, it's my right and we want to be in that attitude. My friend can, can I tell you, spiritually, you will suffer, you will struggle if there's no attitude of thankfulness in your life.

Speaker 1 15:22

Wherever you are today, ingratitude breeds dissatisfaction. End of the day, church, when you go to work, when you make money, when you have a family, all you and I long for is satisfaction. If I'm doing something, am I satisfied? Is my soul satisfied? Am I happy in what am I doing? If you are having ingratitude. If you're always murmuring and grumbling for this and that in gratitude, if you're always murmuring and grumbling for this and that, and I'm telling you, my friend, you will be the most dissatisfied person on the face of this earth.

Speaker 1 16:00

Quickly, hebrews, chapter 13, verse 5, keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Hello church, you don't like this. Eh, all big, you're all so serious. Be content. Please tell your neighbor. Maybe it's your spouse, somebody. Come on, tell your neighbor. Be content. Be content with what you. That's what the bible says. Yes, you have longing. Yes, you have desires. Yes, you want many things to come and pass in your life, but they are not there right now. What does the scripture say? It says be content with what you have. Others may have a mansion, but you may not have a mansion. Others may have a great and a big coach. You may, may not, have a big car, but what is the quality that you and I need, my friend, is an attitude of gratitude to wherever you are placed in your life. Somebody say amen, hallelujah, be content with what you have.

Speaker 1 17:06

An ungrateful attitude is something that most are unaware. Please listen to me very carefully. Ungrateful is something that most are unaware that they have, but everyone else sees it. Everybody around you knows that you are an ungrateful person. You think, no, I don't know, I don't see it, I'm totally insulated by it. No, and that's what you think. But everyone around you thinks something else about you. You know why? Because they find you. They find you you're the most ungrateful person and everybody else is able to see it except you yourself. That's the danger. Amen, so quickly.

Speaker 1 17:54

The second thing I want to talk about is a thankful heart in a thankless world. Somebody say that. A thankful heart Come on, you got to be loud, I can't hear you. You have to be the coolest. A thankful heart in a thankless world Is it true as a church? Is it true as a church? Is it true? How? How will you be different, my friend? Will you live like others? Will you do things like others, or whatever it is? Will you develop a heart of thankfulness Wherever you are? God, I thank you. I'm here in this position, I'm here in this place. Yes, my neighbor is doing well. My own brother, sister. They are doing well. Probably they are overseas, having a lot of great things in their life. But, lord, I don't see that in my life Yet. Oh God, I want to glorify you, I want to honor you. We all must have an attitude of thanks. Deal with the ingratitude if there's any.

Speaker 1 19:04

I want you to see romans, chapter 1, verse 21, for although they knew god this is talking about the Israelites they never glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became fertile and their foolish hearts were darkened. This is about the children of Israelites. God took them out of slavery and told them I have a great plan for you. Just like you and me, he took you out of the mighty clay, he took you out of the sin and he tells I have a great plan for you. Just like you and me, he took you out of the mighty clay, he took you out of the sin and he tells I have a great plan for you. I'm going to my father to prepare a place for you. Amen.

Speaker 1 19:43

But what happened to this group of people? Huh, what does the scripture say? They neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. They experienced all the blessings right, manna was coming from heaven. Their footwear was great, clothes were great, everything was fine, but they never had a heart of gratitude, thankfulness towards God, and that's what the scripture says.

Speaker 1 20:20

I want you to see the scripture Psalm 106, verse 7 and 8. I'm reading from the message translation Our parents left Egypt. They took your wonders for granted. Hello, church, they took. They took your wonders for granted. Hello, church. They took your wonders for granted, forgot your great and wonderful love. They were barely beyond the Red Sea.

Speaker 1 20:46

When they defile the high God, the psalmist laments in the scripture how the Israelites forgot God's kindness and rebel against him, despite his wonders and provision. There are many things God is doing for you, my friend Job, you name it. Wherever you are and whatever you're possessing right now, god has already blessed you. But the thing is we compare ourselves and we find that we don't have many things and we are not grateful to God like the way we should. The Bible reminds us to remind God's kindness and provision Psalm 103, verse 2. Anybody can quote Psalm 103, verse 2? Verse 1 and 2.

Speaker 1 21:35

Bless the Lord, oh my soul. We are in Sunday school today, memory verses. Okay, bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget all His blessings. Oh, I'm speaking to dead crowd today. Do not forget oh, it's already there, is it? Wow? And not forget his benefits or blessings? Have you taken some things for granted in your life? Have you taken your job for granted? Many others don't have a job like you. Have you taken the house that you're living for granted? Many don't have that kind of house that you're living right now. Somebody saying man don't take anything for granted, like these people have taken things for granted. Granted, like these people have taken things for granted. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Speaker 1 22:41

In Luke, chapter 11, it talks about this story of 10 people being 10 people coming to Jesus. You all remember the story. 10 people come right and Jesus touches all of them. Then how many come back? One person, only one person comes back, acknowledging Master, thank you so much. This is truly indeed a great miracle for me and my life.

Speaker 1 23:15

I was thrown out of the community. I was struggling literally because people who had leprosy at that time were excommunicated. They're not supposed to live in the families, even though they had one. They're supposed to go outside the society and live there. And one person. Do you know who this person was?

Speaker 1 23:39

The Bible says he was a Samaritan. The one came back was a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans had nothing in common they always fight together. Jesus, being a Jew, prayed for the Samaritan. Samaritan, in return, comes back to Jesus, says Jesus, I want to thank you. When was the last time Church? When was the last time you turned back to Jesus and thank him for salvation, thank him for saving your soul? Did you thank him that there is a place being prepared for you right now in heaven? When was the last time you thanked God for that great miracle you have seen in your life? Maybe in your family, maybe a business breakthrough, maybe a financial break, maybe a health area being touched by God? When was the last time, truly, you went to God and said God, I want to thank you. Like the Samaritan, he put his ego aside. He put his ego aside. He put his differences aside. He put all the barriers aside, because they had all these things between the communities. Yet he reached out to Jesus and he went to thank him. Please listen to this Gratefulness. Please listen to this Gratefulness. Please listen to this.

Speaker 1 24:54

Gratefulness goes beyond tribe, race, religion and status. My friend, thankfulness goes beyond tribe, race, religion and status. Gratefulness or thankfulness is carried by extraordinary people. Only there are different kind of people, if you have seen my text messages, to whoever it is, it will definitely end with a thank you. You like it or not, it will end with a thank you, because there are some magical words that work wonders. We think we are entitled for so many privileges. Yes, I am a pastor and this is my position. No, my friend, it doesn't work like that. Yes, you might have a position, but the greatest attitude that all irrespective is to have a heart of gratitude. Amen, amen, heart of gratitude, amen, heart of gratitude, hallelujah. We are living in a generation of ingratitude. People take gratefulness for granted. I want you to see this image.

Speaker 1 26:19

This is the story of Steve Jobs. Probably you know. Steve Paul Jobs, known as Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was born in San Francisco in California, february 24, 1955, to Joanne and Abdul. Abdul, steve's father, was born in a Muslim household, the youngest of nine siblings. Listen to this. The two fell in love. Who, joanne and Abdul fell in love, but faced opposition from Joanne's father because Abdul was from Muslim faith. When Joanne became pregnant. She became pregnant, you know, because of the relationship with Abdul. Right, she arranged for Steve to be adopted after his birth. That is Steve Jobs. So his adoptive parents were Paul and Clara Jobs Worked hard to provide for him and supported his education. They encouraged him in his interest, even buying him electronic kits and helping him to pursue his passion for technology.

Speaker 1 27:25

As Jobs became successful, he often reflected upon his upbringing. However, in his later years he had a strange relationship with his adoptive parents. Listen to this, my friend. Probably there are seated here. Maybe there's some situation in your family not going well with your brothers and sisters, not going well with your mom and dad, not going with your neighbors, not going well with your colleagues. I want you to listen to this Job. Sorry, jobs. Steve Jobs was in such a situation not going well with his adoptive parents. He was known for being difficult, demanding, often prioritizing his work over personal relationship. In interviews he expressed regret about not fully appreciating the sacrifices they made for him, especially as he became more immersed in his career. This is what Steve Jobs said when Clara passed away. Steve Jobs acknowledged the importance of his parents' love and support. He later expressed that he wished he had shown them more gratitude during his rise to fame.

Speaker 1 28:36

This story serves as a reminder of how easy it is to take those who support us for granted, especially when we become consumed by our ambitions. Ingratitude is very painful, but it's not unavoidable. That means, at whatever situation Life has hit you badly, ingratitude can come into your life. Why on earth am I facing this? Why on earth I have to go through this? Why did God do this to me in my life? Why does this brother did this? Why does this church do? Did did this to me in my life and slowly, without knowing, ingratitude starts to creep in. Everything becomes a religion and a duty. My friend, we are not thankful for what we have in our lives and we are starting to complain, we are starting to murmur. It's time to recognize ingratitude by having a heart of gratitude. Amen, the power of thankfulness. The widow I want you to highlight this in the next few minutes. Please listen to this very carefully. I'm quoting Mark, chapter 12. The widow's offering.

Speaker 1 29:56

Jesus was in the temple observing how people were giving their offerings. Many wealthy individuals came and gave large amounts. However, a poor widow approached and dropped in two small copper coins worth very little. Jesus called his disciples over and said truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything as she had to live on the heart of giving, the heart of giving. The widow's offering reflects a deep sense of gratitude to God. You know you have opportunity to give right now. Even for Christmas, you have opportunity to give. You have opportunity to give your tithes, your offering. You have opportunity to give your strength by serving in the church. You have different opportunities, my friend. Amen, the power of thankfulness, the power of thankfulness. The widow gave all she had, demonstrated that her gratitude outweighed her material position.

Speaker 1 31:09

Concerns God. I'm truly blessed. I want to be a blessing. I may not have, like the others, to give so much, but this is all. I have, two small copper coins. I can't give to you, lord. I can't give to this poor person, lord. I can't give to this beggar on the street. I can't do something for this underprivileged community society because I am in a much better place than so many others. It's not that you look for those people who are better of. You. Look towards people that you can be the hands and feet of Jesus to somebody. The offering bucket passes by you. It's an opportunity, thank the Lord. It's not a duty to give tithes and offerings, my friend. It's a heart full of gratitude. God, I thank you. Last month you blessed me. Here I come, I give my tithes and offerings to you, lord, last week I'm truly blessed. My exam went well. Lord, my job went well. My health is great. God, truly I'm grateful for you. God, I offer to you something that is close to my heart.

Speaker 1 32:18

Brothers and sisters, we are in the month of Thanksgiving. It's not a festival to celebrate, it's an attitude to carry. I may not be a millionaire or billionaire, but I'm in some position that God has blessed me, that my prayer for somebody, my kindness towards somebody, my time to sit with somebody and just listen to them it's worth it to thank the Lord. I said it's worth it to thank the Lord. As I close, my friend, I encourage each of you to examine your hearts. Can I have the team up, please? I'm going to read a scripture. We ought to examine our hearts.

Speaker 1 33:20

If there's, at any point of time, ingratitude, unthankfulness, for whatever it could be here in church, it could be in your home, with your parents, with your brothers, with your sisters. You have taken things for granted. You started to compare, you started to murmur and grumble. We are found to be in the wrong side. If you truly want to have great Thanksgiving, let our hearts be touched.

Speaker 1 33:46

I want to read 2 Timothy, chapter 3, as I close, but know this that in the last days, perilous, terrible times will come, for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful one of the qualities amongst the many you will find. People are unthankful, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal despise of good, traitors, headstrong ha, lovers of pressure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people, such attitudes stay away. Don't have these attitudes, and especially when we are talking about thankfulness, unthankfulness, ingratitude should be cut away right now in the name of Jesus. Verse 8, it talks about two names. I'm sorry I cannot pronounce them.

Speaker 1 35:05

The Bible says now these two people I hope it says right. They resisted Moses. Listen to this very carefully. They resisted Moses. Listen to this very carefully. They resisted Moses, they resisted Moses. So do these also resist the truth? Men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith, but they will progress no further. So basically, the bible is saying whoever is having ingratitude, unthankfulness in the, they cannot progress further. They may have n amount of fasting prayers and all, but their heart is always complaining or murmuring. The Bible says they will progress no further, for their folly will manifest to all, as theirs also was your plan, your scheme. Your life will be put out in front of everybody because you are not grateful to God for whatever. You have Repent from the sin of ingratitude, recognizing the destructive nature, choosing instead to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving and appreciation.

Speaker 1 36:25

Church, are you all okay? I said. Church, are you all okay? Say uh-huh, with a big smile. Say uh-huh, are you all okay? Church, ah, that sounds better. So I want to give a challenge to you all. Do you like challenges? Yes, no, maybe could be none of the above. Which one I said? Do you like challenges?

Speaker 1 36:55

The next two months or the next few months, I encourage you to participate or practice thankfulness, intentionally, practice it. This is a month of thanksgiving, my friend. The whole world will celebrate it. I don't know what all they will do, but what will you do Intentionally? Be thankful. Go to your mom, go to your dad. Tell them I love you and I thank you. Go to your pastor. Tell your pastor. Go to your mentor. Tell your mentor. Go to your leader. Tell your leader, whoever it is, even though there may be people who are standing with you, who are below you, go to them and tell them thank you. Thank you so much, thank you.

Speaker 1 37:43

Start each day with a moment of gratitude, expressing appreciation to those around you and recognize the blessings in every situation. Amen, I said Amen. Would you like to put a big smile on your face? I said big smile on your face. Come on church, big smile. I'm not asking you to clap your hands, but I'm asking you to smile. Come on, smile. Look at your neighbor and smile. I'm not asking you to clap your hands, but I'm asking you to smile. Come on, smile. Look at your neighbor and smile. This is the time to give thanks to the Lord, thanks to the people around us. Thank for everything you have. If you've been found to be ungrateful, unthankful, like the Israelites were, we have to repent of our ways.