Bulletin Articles
Gratitude Leads To...
Gratitude Leads to Resisting Temptation
Giving into temptation is ultimately due to a lack of gratitude. Consider these two contrasting examples that show the role gratitude—or lack thereof—plays in resisting the snares of the Devil:
Adam and Eve
When God placed man in the garden of Eden, He commanded him to not eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). Instead of being thankful for all of the other trees in the garden they had access to, Adam and Eve selfishly partook of the one tree that God forbid them to eat from (Gen. 3:6).
Joseph
In contrast, when Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he gave this response to her: “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9). Joseph recognized how much he had been blessed with, which empowered him to resist the temptation to commit sexual sin with someone who didn’t belong to him.
Ingratitude is one of the first steps to spiritual apostasy (Romans 1:21). Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s thank God for what He has given us. When we pray with thanksgiving, the peace of God guards our “hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). The more gratitude we have in our heart, the less likely we’ll try to gratify our heart with sin.
Gratitude Leads to Service
Where there is a lack of gratitude, there is a foothold for sin. More aptly, a foothold for Satan rather than God. In this, we stumble and forget the very creator who provides every blessing. Following the footsteps of our own folly, we separate ourselves from God.
In response was a plan through Jesus. The night He is betrayed, John’s Gospel draws attention to the magnitude of the power Jesus had and His response, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist” (John 13:3-4).
Jesus, knowing that His time was near, was intentional with His actions. Before Judas left to betray Him, Jesus did not start by explaining what He would impart throughout the evening. It was not on the power that He could have displayed to stop Judas’s betrayal. Jesus lowered himself as an example of service.
Without Christ’s intervention, we would continue to be separated from God. Our gratitude for a renewed relationship in Him should yield Christ-like behaviors as these—to serve one another and strive to do His will.
