Thankful for Our Blessings

Thankful for Our BlessingsText: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

There are many things for which we can be thankful. In this lesson, we are going to talk about being thankful for our blessings in this life.

To Be Thankful, There Must Be…

  1. A giver – the giver of all good things is God (James 1:17)
  2. A recipient – one who is to receive the gift
  3. A gift that is accepted – not rejected, neglected, or discarded
  4. An appreciation of the gift – recognize its value; the greater the value attributed to it, the more grateful we will be for it
  5. A demonstration of gratitude – spoken or active; done with sincerity

The Gifts of This Life

  • God created this world and everything in it (Psalm 33:6-9) – He sustains His creation (Psalm 65:9); sustains us with everything we need (Matthew 6:26-30)
  • God will continue to provide these blessings as long as the earth stands (Genesis 8:22)
  • These blessings are a witness to Him (Psalm 19:1; Acts 14:15-17)

We Must Accept Our Blessings

  • We should accept the blessings we receive in this life (1 Timothy 4:4) – not because we are greedy, but because they are given by God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19)
  • However, these blessings are not given to us miraculously (Matthew 6:11) – so how do we receive them?
  • Two primary ways we receive blessings – by working to provide for ourselves (2 Thessalonians 3:10); Proverbs 13:4); by receiving help from others when in need (Psalm 37:25-26; Acts 4:34-35)

We Must Appreciate Our Blessings

  • Appreciate them because they come from God (1 Timothy 4:3-4)
  • While we work to earn a living, this is still a gift – using what God has provided (2 Corinthians 9:10)
  • These blessings sustain us in this life (Genesis 1:29) – also makes life comfortable/enjoyable (Ecclesiastes 5:18)
  • However, we must be careful not to over-appreciate our blessings (Luke 12:16-21; 18:18-25) – they are only temporal (1 Timothy 6:7, 17) and cannot compare with the blessings of heaven (Matthew 16:26)

We Must Demonstrate Gratitude

  • Thank God for the blessings we have received (1 Timothy 4:4)
  • Do not forget that God is the one who has blessed us (Acts 14:17) – the earth is His (Psalm 24:1)
  • Be good stewards of our blessings (Proverbs 27:23-27) – do not squander them (Luke 15:11-14)
  • Use our blessings in a way that honors Him (Proverbs 13:9; 1 Timothy 6:17-18) – because we are looking beyond this life and the blessings in it (1 Timothy 6:19)

Conclusion

  • God has given us every good thing to enjoy in this life
  • This is just a foretaste of the blessings we will receive in eternity if we will faithfully serve Him
  • Let us show gratitude for our blessings – be thankful, be good stewards, and look forward to eternity