Category: General Reflections
What is most offensive to God? Do some sins provoke His holy ire more than others? The answer is an emphatic, Yes! Paul informs us in the first chapter of Romans that the unleashing of God’s wrath comes for two weighty sins, namely, idolatry and ingratitude. The former comes as no surprise; of course, idolatry is abominable to God. What could be more offensive to Him than to ascribe glory and honor to a hunk of wood (or any other created thing), and to call it ‘God’? But the latter is less obvious. If asked to construct a list of the most reprehensible sins, most of us would not include ingratitude (certainly not in the top two!). However, Paul (speaking of sinful mankind) declares that God’s wrath is being poured out because they “did not glorify Him as God, or give thanks” (Rom. 1:21, emphasis mine).
Have you ever noticed the natural inclination to give thanks that men have? Even unbelievers utter words of thanksgiving. Unfortunately, they exchange the true God for a mere abstraction and say “thank goodness,” rather than “thank God.” Or sometimes they use the latter but only as a figure of speech without intending to express gratefulness to the God who is. Nevertheless, we all seem to have an inherent understanding that we are not self-sufficient, but are dependant upon something outside of ourselves for the blessings we enjoy. If God has implanted into the human psyche this proclivity toward giving thanks, and we express gratitude to anything other than God, then we can understand His anger at such dereliction.
In another letter, the same apostle reveals that the will of God for us in Christ is that we give thanks in all things (1 Thess. 5:18). Are you wondering what God's will is for you? Be grateful to God for everything, that's His will for you.
One more thing. I would encourage you to give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ (as opposed to 'God') when speaking publicly. We are not expressing gratitude to just any deity or higher power; rather, we have a very specific God in mind--the sovereign King Jesus who sits on the universal throne. And although Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time for gathering as families and friends, we who have received His special blessing of salvation ought to be especially thankful everyday, whether it’s a national holiday or not.