A Grateful Heart
Text: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Ps.116: 12
Scripture: Psalm 116:12-19
Many people take credit for their success in life and take for granted the benefits of God. Any grateful and right minded person has to stop sometimes to count his blessings, and thank God for all His benefits toward you. This beautiful Psalm sets forth an excellent example of the proper attitude a person should have toward God. When we consider the plight of our brothers and sisters in our homeland, we ought to be more grateful for the greater benefits God bestows upon us.
As David, the author of that Psalm, let us consider a few blessings from God that we should be thankful for. Let us also express our Thanksgiving not with lips service, but in a tangible way.
A. Physical benefits
Living in a world of materialism, we are prone to count our blessings by taking inventory of the material goods we have accumulated. However, physical health is one of the most important benefits a person can receive from God. You will not realize it until you are no longer capable of enjoying the materials because of health issues. God does not only bestow health, but He also protects us from many bodily injuries and harms in a daily basis. David’s life from his childhood to his death was always in danger. The Psalmist recognized physical benefits as blessings from God. “The pains of death encompassed me, and the pangs of hell laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow, then I called upon the name of the Lord…” Ps. 116:3. We ought to be thankful for the gifts of health and daily physical protection.
B. Spiritual benefits
Above all other blessings, David emphasized the spiritual benefit of a relationship with God. Salvation is the greatest benefit a man can receive from God. “ You have delivered my soul from death…” Ps. 116:8 Sometime, our financial hardship, poor health or other difficulties of life may tend to cloud that great benefit, which is the salvation of our soul. Jesus once said to his followers: “What will it profit a man if has the whole world, and loses his soul…” Matt. 16:26. We ought to be thankful for the gift of salvation, by which God liberates us from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation.
C. Financial benefits
For many of us, we have to thank God every day for the salary that we are making in this land. The average salary in Haiti remains significantly lower (nothing) compared to global standards. The average monthly salary hovers around $150 to $200 USD per month for formal sector workers. In the scarce textile industry the minimum wage is around 500 gourdes per day, or about $5 USD. Have you considered what you are making in the US or you spend your time complain? We are blessed!
D. A grateful heart
Thanksgiving for David was not lips service. In consideration of all the blessings, he had decided what to do to prove to God that he was truly grateful. He took 5 (five) decisions to express his gratitude. I have decided to call them the 5 (five) “I WILL” «Résolutions»
- 13 “I will take up the cup of salvation.” Recognizing that salvation is the greatest gift of all. No one can earn or buy salvation, regardless how religious you are or how much money you have. Eph.2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
- 14 “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” A promise made to God during a crisis should be kept. God remembers the promises you made when you wanted certain deliverance in your situation. He remembers that you promised to give more times to his work – to pay your tithe if you get a job or a raise – if I succeed in my education. It is ungrateful that we forget our promises our vows after all the benefits received from God. Eccl.5:1-4 False vows/promises made by fools – Insensés.
- 17a “I will offer to you a sacrifice of Thanksgiving.” We should not wait until it is convenient, or easy to carry out our vows to God. We should do it, even if it calls for sacrifice –Time – Money, etc… Among the 150 Psalms of the Bible, David wrote 76 of them. The majority of them are songs of Thanksgiving. He was not seating in his palace, but running for his life from cave, one bush to another. GOD DESERVES A SERVICE THAT COSTS US SOMETHING. A service and a gift that really require some sacrifice. I serve not because I have time, but I am offering a sacrifice of Thanksgiving to my GOD because, He is good to me. BONDYE PA CHANSE NON AVEK TI NEG!!!
- 17b “I will call upon the name of the Lord.” That has to do with communion with God – not just when we want things, but simply for the pleasure of talking, worshiping and praising Him. Our Lord wants a relationship with his people. David had a deep relationship with God. He depended on Him from his teen to his grave.
- 18 “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” There is a nuance between v.14 and v.18. Here, David mentioned in that verse “In the Lord’s house.” Expressing gratitude cannot be always a private affair. The congregation can also learn, encourage and benefit from the action of a grateful heart. A testimony of a vow kept before the congregation can challenge others. Rarely nowadays we hear any testimony where people of God are exalted his name for something they asked and received from the Lord.
Conclusion. A grateful heart should always ask: “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” If the world does not realize the need to thank God for all He has done. We, Christians, should thank Him daily. Surely, God has been good to all of us to motivate us to give Him praise and Thanksgiving. We should all be able to say with David, “Blessed the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Ps. 103:2 BE GRATEFUL!!!
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