Title: The Beginning of Gratitude
Content Title: The starting point of thankful faith
Bible: Job 1:20-22
The characteristic of Christian faith is to live a life of joy and gratitude according to the words, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks." The reason is that we, who would be destroyed by our sins, were justified freely by the grace of God and were saved. Since the wages of sin is death, the only punishment the sinner deserves is eternal suffering. But God gave His only and innocent Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross so that sinners might receive atonement for eternal life. Those who have been saved through faith cannot help but rejoice in this grace and be thankful. In the Old Testament, Job is a representative of the righteous who suffered. We need to re-examine Job's philosophy of religious life at this time. I believe that if you live a life of deep faith, your faith will become stronger and you will be filled with gratitude. Let's receive grace today under the title "The starting point of the faith to be thankful"
First, gratitude begins when we acknowledge that we do not originally own anything.
Job thought of everything he had as a temporary entrustment of God. It is confessing that it is 'they came empty-handed and only return empty-handed'. It is often said that when a child is born and crying, they clench their fists and cry, but when they die of old age, they spread their palms out and die. They come to this world empty-handed and live with a vengeance that they will possess something, but when they die, they leave empty-handed and have nothing. If you live on bread, you will live a miserable life where you eat better and do everything you can't do to build up your own things. Those who live by the word of God strive to live as human beings according to the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Second, thanksgiving begins when we know that God is the one who has entrusted us with it and then comes to us, and that we are only stewards. Job said, "The LORD gave and the LORD took away; blessed be the name of the LORD." A lot of people admit that they accept air transport, but they don't understand that God entrusts their wealth and then brings it back to them. Even among Christians, there are many who think that wealth is a portion of what I have earned through hard work. It may just be what you see. A lazy person is poor, but a diligent person has a better life. It is also true that people with abilities will be treated better and have more possessions than those who lack abilities. We Christians should be able to thank God for what we have entrusted to me no matter how much, although it is not permanently mine.
Third, thanksgiving begins here for giving according to God's will so that we may benefit more than we want.
Job said, "Since we have received blessings from God, shouldn't we also suffer calamities?" This means that as recipients, we cannot ask for only the good we like, but we must also receive what we dislike. The deeper meaning is that although God, who gives us blessings, gives us disaster, we must believe in God's will and receive it with gratitude. We must be convinced that God will give us these things to benefit us in our times of suffering. Those who learn Job's philosophy of faith and life will have a grateful faith. Amen.