Gratitude

There are certain words in the Bible that have meanings beyond their diction like love, faith, loyalty, hope for example; their definition producing a richness which takes a lifetime to explore. For a long time, I saw words in the context of power because of their ability to persuade, convince or condemn and whilst it’s true words are used in this way, I now understand its only one part of their purpose. Words are equally valuable not only to persuade, but also to delve.

Good words can take us to places that otherwise remain off limits. And rather like the skier who needs to gain confidence before going off piste, as we grow in our understanding of language, our insight increases and we begin to see words not simply for their power, but also their depth. One good example of such a word is gratitude.

Gratitude matters both in language and life not for what it describes but what it unveils. Gratitude is an uncovering; a revealing indicator of one’s true feeling to a person or situation. ‘It’s time you showed a little gratitude.’ We hear someone say of a person taking another for granted.

It seems gratitude is less evident in a culture where people expect more and act as if society owes them. When you contrast this with a poorer climate, you often get a different response.  On the occasions I have been fortunate to travel to Developing Countries I have often encountered a profound sense of gratitude amongst people who have received help from a church or charity I have represented. There, in the midst of poverty, where food, water, health care and the like are not provided by the State, gratitude is often the overwhelming response from those helped in some way by the generosity of others.

Interestingly, I have found gratitude to be a helpful diagnostic to the pastoral ministry giving a useful indicator as to who will be helped most by support that is given. Time and again, where gratitude is the overriding response, the person will benefit from what is offered. Such an approach enables people to take advice well, use money wisely and act on situations with the perseverance and endurance often required for a positive outcome. Without it, you can be left feeling you are pouring water into a bucket full of holes. 

From a biblical perspective, gratitude is a right response to worship. Paul writes, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.’ A congregation full of gratitude will be a church full of praise, similarly a person touched by gratitude will be an individual not living to serve themselves but others.