Gratitude (part 2)

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise (Psalm 51:15).

Generally, we tend to be ungrateful. It’s because we feel entitled to special treatment. Stores want our business, so clerks are told that the customer is king—as a result, we expect to be catered to like royalty when we go shopping, and often treat the sales staff like servants. If a teenager is athletically gifted, he can throw his weight around at school because no one wants him suspended from the team. A girl blessed with great looks and good fashion sense can become queen bee and treat other girls however she likes.

We’re all guilty of acting entitled. We interrupt others when we have a point to make, as if our opinion carries more weight. We tell nasty jokes about people who we think are inferior to us. How often have you been late and thought nothing of it—after all, your time is more valuable than anyone else’s. How often have you bullied someone into doing what you want—after all, their needs aren’t as important as yours.

When you feel entitled, saying ‘thank you’ becomes irrelevant. We expect to be the center of attention. We expect others to go out of their way to be nice to us. We expect getting first pick, or receiving the best of the lot. Saying ‘thank you’ happens when you get something surprising and undeserved. If you feel entitled, getting special treatment is never a surprise and never feels undeserved.

God rarely gets the thanks He deserves. Most people take Him for granted or ignore Him altogether. They whine and complain when money is tight or their health is poor, yet they don’t give thanks each time a bill gets paid or they wake up in a warm, comfy bed. They feel entitled to God’s care, never considering how angry they make Him with their selfish, sinful behavior.

The sad truth is that we deserve nothing from God except His punishment. How wonderful it is that He blesses us generously, even though we are unworthy! He gives us life and health, friends and family, a purpose for living and hope beyond death. Most incredible of all, He gave His Son to the cross so that we can be forgiven and welcomed into His home when we die! No favor is more surprising or undeserved than this. No gift is more deserving of our deep and grateful thanks.