Thankfulness Precedes Happiness

James H. Cagle

We live in a very covetous and discontented society.  We’re ungrateful or unthankful for what we have and so we’re usually very unhappy.  We’re always climbing, wanting more and more, thinking a little more will finally bring us happiness.  But when we get more we still aren’t happy but instead are finding ways to get more believing it’s always just a little more that will put an end to our greed and envy and discontent and bring us peace and fulfillment.  We are full but not fulfilled. But as long as we have the spirit of covetousness we will be discontent and unhappy.

But real happiness is never realized this way because it’s actually “pleasure we’re pursuing and pleasure does not end in pleasure because pleasure isn’t an end.”  “The pursuit of happiness has an end: happiness.”  And this happiness is found in God.   Most don’t realize this and instead think contentment can be purchased with a credit card. Nothing can fill that God-shaped void in our heart but Jesus.

Contentment is an attitude of faith and thankfulness.  Those that are grabbling for the never ending more aren’t thankful with what they already have and therefore cannot be happy.  This is because happiness is the sweet fragrance of a grateful heart.

Paul spoke much about contentment which is happiness in every situation.  He said, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content” and “having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”  Contentment or happiness is found not in the amount of what one has but in their attitude toward what they have, they are thankful and make the most of what little they might have, because their trust is in God Who promised to supply their needs (Phil. 4:11;I Tim. 6:5-10; Heb. 13:5, 6).

We are so obsessed with this climbing and grabbing that it’s on our mind on Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving Day is spent without giving any heartfelt thanks.

Thankfulness is not something that comes naturally to us sinners.  Hopefully we were taught by our parents to be grateful and give thanks.  The Bible throughout instructs us to be thankful because we have so very much to be thankful for and we do owe our thanks to God.

We would be thankful if we realized down deep in our proud hearts that we don’t deserve anything and that it is a Sovereign God Who sustains all creation and allows us to have what we have.  It’s when we acknowledge God first as Creator and Sustainer of this universe, that we get a proper perspective of everything else.

When we consider the fact that our very existence is a gift from God we can be thankful.  If we began with this great truth and then continued by counting the many other gifts we have as blessings from God it would bring us down a notch or two and humble us and make us more thankful and appreciative of the mercy and goodness of God toward us undeserving sinners.

“If we fill our day with thankfulness, we will eliminate most of the anger and frustration and distraction we contribute to the world’s overall confusion.” – Chesterton

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