A Grateful Heart
Text: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” John 20:25
Scripture: Psalm 116:12-19
Introduction – Living in North America, we are seemingly, the most blessed people of the globe. Things we take for granted are considered to be luxuries by people in many countries of the world. However, we tend to notice the little things that are not going the way we want, and take for granted all the undeserving blessings that God pours upon us daily. As David, the author of that Psalm, let us do a little inventory of all the things received 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
If we were able to spend sometimes visiting the hospitals, we would discover that the rooms are all full with sick people. Many children are born with incurable diseases. Science is not able to find a cure, and many are dying daily. Our 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 life and the materials because of health issues. We shouldn’t only thank God for physical health, but He also protects us from many bodily injuries and harms in a daily basis. David’s life from his childhood to his adulthood was always in danger. The Psalmist recognized physical benefits as blessings from God. “The cords of death entangled me, and the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress 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
If we were to realize our eternal destination without being saved by God through Christ, we would be more thankful for our salvation. The greatest benefit a man can receive from God is the salvation of his soul. “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 condemnation.
C. A Grateful Heart
Thanksgiving for David was not lips service. In consideration of all the blessings, he had made up his mind on 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” «Resolutions»
- V.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. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”Eph.2:8-9.
- V.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 are made by fools.”
- V.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 caves to caves, and one bush to another. GOD DESERVES A SERVICE THAT COSTS US SOMETHING. A service and a gift that really please God are those that cost us something. We serve, not because we have time, we give, not because we have a lot, but we are offering a sacrifice of Thanksgiving to my GOD, because He is good to us.
- 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.
- V.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 testimony 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.