November Gratitude Stone 16 Yielded Hearts

Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Ingratitude is a pretty big deal if it is listed as a sin! 2 Tim says that in the last days people will be ungrateful. There really are people without anything and we have a bajillion channels and still say there’s nothing to watch (well that might actually be a little bit true!). We get a gift and wish we had gotten a different color.

Contentment is nearing extinction in our culture. We are envious to the point of nauseating, wanting what others have and whining and comparing constantly. In Phil. 4, Paul tells the church that he has learned to be content, but he doesn’t say how. To me that says it is a posture of the heart, a choice I can make. To Timothy he says that godliness is of great gain with contentment and then he suggests that focusing on what we have is enough. I never ever want to experience a darkened heart.  Paul tells the Romans that those who choose not to honor and thank God will indeed have that result. He goes on and declares them to be unwise fools.

Contentment means finding in God your ultimate treasure. Christian contentment is not the elimination of desires, but rather an intensification of one’s desire for God, yielding all other desires to His Lordship. In Psalm 73, the believer wrote, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Sometimes we find ourselves in distressing circumstances, but a thankful heart recognizes that even if we were to suffer the loss of all things, we still possess the greatest treasure in our relationship with God Himself. We can choose to see the glass as full and even overflowing.

A thankful heart produces contentment in all circumstances. As I yield my heart to you may I be increasingly content.