Give Thanks

By Clifton Angel       Solomon wrote, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). He then proceeded to illustrate this statement with very practical and common occurrences that are cyclical in the life of every human being (see Eccl. 3:2–8). As he poetically notes that there is “A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” and so on, NEVER does he say: “A time to be unthankful.” In fact ingratitude can be found at the heart of every sin and certainly is one of man’s greatest problems.     Long ago, a man wrote about the ingratitude of people in his past. These were not people that he knew personally, but ones that lived long before him. It is interesting that we can read about the results of ingratitude on mankind thousands of years ago and take note of the ever-applicable consequences that remain even today. He wrote: When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.     These are the words of Paul at Romans 1:21–32. If any of these apply to us, our conclusion must be that we need to reassess our gratitude toward God. Ingratitude ignored leads to immoral societies and iniquitous souls. Let us conclude with the words of Paul to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything, give thanks” (1Thessalonians 5:18).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/