The challenge is not only to receive God’s blessings and rise to a place of greatness and honour, but to remain faithful to God and not take Him for granted when you get there.
The problem is not when you are down; the problem is when you are up—to stay up. Many don’t know how to retain positions of greatness and honour. Solomon did well in loving the Lord and sacrificing to Him, but when he got to the peak of success and honour, he started to take God for granted. He thought he could handle those wives when he was young, but the longer he stayed around sin, the lesser his strength to resist temptation became.
Psalm 106:24–39 shows the same danger in Israel. Despite the goodness of God, they despised the pleasant land, did not believe His Word, murmured in their tents and did not listen to His voice. Life has trouble, but if you settle down and complain over things, you will not see the good things God has for you. They eventually joined themselves to Baal and forgot where they came from. There is nothing you left in this world when you became born again that you need to go back to. God is too good to fail Him.
Ephesians 1:11–12 emphasises that it is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. God has a design for our lives. Psalm 126 also shows that God can turn captivity around until it is like a dream, filling the mouth with laughter and causing those who sow in tears to reap in joy. The presence of God and His goodness in our lives should therefore inspire gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness.
1. Unthankfulness Is a Sin
Romans 1:21–22 shows that although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God and were not thankful. When you think deeply, you will value God. You cannot afford the tragedy of being an unthankful person.
Unthankfulness grieves the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30 says not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Remember what God has done for you, share the testimony and document His goodness in your life.
2. Stop Discussing Anything That Does Not Build Up Another
Ephesians 4:29 says no corrupt communication should proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for edification and ministers grace to those who hear. Watch the way you talk so that there won’t be leakages to the blessing you have received. Let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others, and be a dispenser of God’s favour.
Your saying comes from your thoughts. If you take care of your thought life, your words will also be taken care of. Matthew 6:25 says, “take no thought.” Don’t take the thought of the enemy; stop it at that level.
3. Focus on the Blessings of God on a Daily Basis
Psalm 68:19 says:
“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits.”
Don’t wait for annual benefit or monthly benefit; focus on God’s daily benefits. Psalm 103:1–5 says not to forget His benefits—He forgives iniquities, heals diseases, redeems life from destruction, crowns with lovingkindness and tender mercies, and satisfies the mouth with good things.
4. Pray When You See Ingratitude Cropping Up in You
When you forget what God has done and you are getting depressed or discouraged, remember and pray. Second Timothy 3:2 identifies unthankfulness among the characteristics of the last days, alongside selfishness, pride and disobedience.
Do not allow the spirit of ingratitude to hold you captive. Remember what God has done and remain grateful to Him.
5. Confess Your Sins of Ingratitude With a Broken and Contrite Heart
Every time you come to a point where you are not grateful enough or are slow to be grateful, tell God, “I am sorry.” Confess it, change, repent and turn around. Psalm 34:18 says the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who have a contrite spirit.
Do not become comfortable with things that grieve the Holy Spirit. Be conscious of God and follow His direction.
6. Withdraw From Wrong Associations
First Corinthians 15:33 warns that evil companionship corrupts good manners, morals and character. Your friend is not your acquaintance. Some people you cannot avoid because of work, but they do not have to become close influences in your life.Romans 16:17 says to mark and avoid those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the teaching you have received. Korah’s children did not follow their father into rebellion. Their father could fail, but they did not have to fail. Withdraw from those who are unthankful, striving and contentious.
7. Let Your Imagination Be Greater Than Your Memory
Whatever good thing God has done in your life, start to have a picture of what is ahead of you. Don’t live looking backwards. Backsliding is not only going backwards; to stop going forward is also backsliding. Hosea 14:4 says, “I will heal their backsliding.”
Let your imagination be greater than your memory. Thank God for what He has done and what you have received, but thank God much more for the future ahead of you. Keep moving forward with God.
Call to Action
- Do not allow success, comfort or God’s blessings to make you take Him for granted.
- Remain thankful, watch your thoughts and words, recognise God’s daily benefits, repent when ingratitude appears, guard your associations and keep moving forward with God.
Questions for Meditation and Pondering
- Have I become less thankful or committed to God because of the blessings and comfort He has given me?
- Are my thoughts, words and associations helping me to value God and preserve what He is doing in my life?
- Am I only remembering what God has done in the past, or is my imagination greater than my memory as I continue moving forward with Him?