Misplaced Thanks

Misplaced Thanks

Read: Luke 18:9-14

“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’”

Luke 18:11

“Some people always sigh in thanking God.”

—Elizabeth Barrett Browning

IN WORD Be careful what you thank God for. Not that we shouldn’t be thankful for everything He has given us, and for every circumstance of our lives, or even for life itself; of course we should have grateful hearts. But often we thank God for privilege, not realizing that our awareness of it was meant to prompt our sensitivity to others. Thankfulness for what God has blessed us with is not enough; knowledge of the blessing is granted us that we might extend the blessing to others.

The Pharisee’s assumption of his place of privilege, in this parable, caused him to be insensitive to others. He thought God’s blessing on his life—if being a Pharisee can be considered a blessing—meant that God favored him and had passed over others. Nothing could have been further from the truth. God’s favor comes to those who know their need. Abundance and status are deceitful, often blinding us to the very need God wants us to acknowledge.

Our gratitude often contains a tragic irony. We think we are being spiritual by thanking Him for things, but we may end up thanking Him for our own idols. Are we really grateful to God for material blessings? Or are we just thankful to have them, regardless of how we got them? The difference is subtle. How can we tell?

IN DEED Ask yourself this question: If God took the blessings away, would I still love Him? If so, you were truly thanking God. If not, you only saw Him as the means to another end.

This Thanksgiving, thank God for all He has blessed you with. But be aware of spiritual pitfalls in the blessings He has given. Do not let them mask your deeper needs.