Sermon: Attitude of Gratitude

I was filling out my income tax form for the State of Maine (as all cheerful tax payers do J ), one year while pastoring up there, and was about to sign it when my eye caught a small section where it clearly stated, "Check if deceased. (1.)___Taxpayer (2)___Spouse." Hmmm! Taxpayer? That’s me! Maybe I’d better check! I checked…seemed just time! Spouse? Hmmm…I went to check. No problem. She was just fine, too! J

Then I started thinking. Could I have been dead and not know it? I asked my wife, "Honey, I am alive, aren’t I? She assured me that I was very much alive. So, I went back to my desk, picked up my pen and, just before sealing and mailing my tax form, I wrote, "I did check! We are alive! Praise the Lord!"

Later, as I was relating this to friends, a thought came to me. There really are people who are not living normal, healthy lives, and they don’t know it! There are folks with serious mental illnesses. There are accident victims in comas (although some are more aware than people think) – or stroke victims.

Then I began asking the same questions from the spiritual standpoint. Can you and I be dead without being aware of it? Then I began to think about the Saducees…about the scribes and the Pharisees…They seemed pretty lively, didn’t they? But, in reality, you do not have to go very far in Scripture to discover that they were in an awful lot of trouble! Jesus, Himself, while addressing the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount, said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

These guys were spiritually dead! Only the thought that they were the rulers of the roost! They thought that they were the chief chickens! But, in reality, they were dead and too numb to know it!

1. DEAD AND TOO NUMB TO KNOW IT! (Review Verse #34)

"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Saducees, the Pharisees got together." Jesus was under attack! In fact, He had been taking critical hits from those who should have been the most supportive! Shouldn’t those of the organized church of the day be able to recognize and to be supportive of their God and Savior and Lord?

Beginning at Verse #15, the Pharisees had gone after Him. But Jesus knew their hearts! They did not fool Him. Jesus’ response overwhelmed them. They were no match. So they left.

Next, (Verse #23), it was the Saducees turn. They didn’t do any better. In fact, when the crowds heard Jesus speak, they were amazed at His teachings! So, the Saducees were also defeated.

Realizing that the Saducees had been defeated and silenced the scribes and Pharisees decided that maybe they’d better take another shot at Him. They sent in the very best of their best! They sent in an expert of the law. They probably said amongst himself, "We’ve got Him now!" Jesus dealt with it. For anyone who was truly willing to listen, Jesus was willing to share! After all, many of these so-called "experts" and "leaders" were, in reality, spiritually "DEAD – AND TOO NUMB TO KNOW IT!" No attitude of gratitude! That’s for sure!

The Pharisees were a legalistic and separatist group who strictly, but often hypocritically, kept the Law of Moses and the "unwritten tradition of the elders." (PUBLIC DISPLAYS: Prayer…Tithes…Gifts to the poor)>

The Saducees were truly sad, you see! J That had to be! They were worldly and politically minded. They were theologically unorthodox. Among other things, they denied the resurrection, they denied angels, and they denied spirits. If there were no reason for hope in the future and in eternity, it would have to be sad. No resurrection,…no angels,…no spirits = no eternal life! So, a Saducee would be truly sad, you see? (Acts 23:8). No reason or motivation for an attitude of gratitude here!

The Pharisees were successors of the Hasidim, pious Jews, who joined forces with the Maccabees during the struggle for freedom from Syrian oppression (166-142 BC). They first appeared under the name "Pharisee" during the reign of John Hyrcanus (135-105 BC). Most of the Pharisees who came into conflict with Jesus were hypocritical, envious, rigid, uncompassionate, and formalistic. According to Pharisees, God grace extended to those who kept His law. (No mention of love or redemptive grace here!) They were extremely legalistic while being judgmental and critical of anyone who didn’t fit into their molds. As such, they were "DEAD – AND TOO NUMB TO KNOW IT!" There was no attitude of gratitude here! L

There might have actually been a spark of life in this lawyer, however. In reality, his question was really a good one. In fact I wonder if he was more sincere than it might appear on the surface. While the others wanted to stump Jesus with hard questions, this expert of their law may have wondered at how there must be something more that he was missing. So, he tested Jesus with the question, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?" (Verse #36). Jesus’ answer inspires us to be . . .

2. ALIVE AND TRULY KNOW IT (Verses 37-40).

Jesus basically said, plain and simple, - its love! "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." Then Jesus took it a step farther. He went on to say, "And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on those two commandments." That’s it! Plain and simple! It is a message so clear that even a child can understand it! The deal is to yield!

The word for love here is not "phileo," which expresses friendly affection. It is "agape," which involves the commandment of devotion – that is directed by the will and can be commanded as a duty…but in reality, it is a joyful duty that (1) warms the heart of God, (2) warms our own hearts, and (3) warms the hearts of others around us as we respond with attitudes of gratitude’s!

As a result of having attitudes of gratitude, we are more than happy and willing to give Him first place in our hearts and lives. Jesus says that we are to do it… "with all your heart…soul…and mind." With your whole being! Total consecration…totally set apart for our precious savior and Lord, - for our God! This involves a deep-seated love and respect, ...a deep love and dedication that comes from an attitude of gratitude. As a result, we come:…

1. III. ALIVE – AND TRULY SHOW IT! (Verse #39).

My neighbor? But, Lord, have you taken a close look at this guy lately? J Yep! That is practical Christianity in action. We reach out to others with the same love and respect that we desire from them! Sometimes it’s a joy. Sometimes it is rather difficult. Either way, it is not an option. It is a privilege! It keeps us constantly searching our own hearts and attitudes.

This sums it all up. All of the commands that have ever been written spring to life when love is allowed to freely flow… (1) Love of God; (2) Love for ourselves (You have to have a healthy opinion of yourself and a decent self-respect to be able to love others), and, (3) Love for others that reflects the kind of love and sincerity that you need in return.

Let’s just does it! As you and I stay close to God in prayer, read His Word, and trust his precious Spirit, He’ll do in us and through us what He has called us to do!

From the practical standpoint, why not zero in on someone in particular this week…a person…a couple…or a family…who really could use God’s love in action in and through you, reaching out to them!

We’ve checked! We are not dead! Praise the Lord! So, let’s truly reach up to Him and reach out to others…Let’s share our love with attitudes of gratitude! J

Please note that you are welcome to share this sermon in your local churches, but I suggest that you personalize it. Also, please give credit where credit is due. You do not have permission to publicize it or to make money from it in any form. May God richly bless you as you minister for Him with rich spiritual rewards of seeing many souls saved and sanctified for all eternity! Please let me know whatever helpful results that you may get from this!

With Warm Sincerity In Jesus’ Love,

Rev. Don Schink, Pastor

Sonlight Ministries

Tijeras, NM