Thankfulness Spreads Joy

I'm preaching to myself more than anyone right now.

We are coming up on a time to focus on thankfulness for what we have. Part of that is giving back to others. It is easy to criticize this and say, well, that you should be thankful all the time. You should want to give back all year. We are sort-of trained to criticize ever since the internet became a place to pick someone apart, bash people, and argue.  But having a time set aside to stop the routine and be thankful is definitely a good thing because we just DON'T do this all year. That's not our reality. We have everything in America, yet we are the least appreciative, most depressed country in the world. We have all these things and no time to enjoy them or be thankful for them. I believe that we are unhappy because we just don't appreciate things. I believe that the more appreciative we are for the things we have, the happier we will be and the happier we will make those around us. I'm no psychological expert, but I can see some things that contribute to our unhappiness and discontent. 

Materialism. 

Yes, it is cliche, but very true. Sometimes material blessings aren't really blessings. It isn't just that we have so much that we don't appreciate it. We live in a society that lives to work so that we can afford the latest iPhone or Galaxy Note Edge (the latest and greatest thing I am wanting). I know you have seen some Christmas advertising already that is designed to make you want something. You are made to want more LEADING up to Thanksgiving. Advertising is everywhere showing how some new product will make you happier. In order to get the money for that next new thing, we have sacrificed the home, our free time, and the future of children. There was a time when one parent stayed at home and took care of the home and child while the other was able to work 9 to 5 and make enough to have a decent life. Now, inflation, more necessities, or whatever you want to blame has made that a near impossibility. I know that some families work 12 hour shifts or two jobs in order to keep up. Could you survive on one salary? For some, like me, certainly not. But if I could, maybe I should. I should love spending time with my family more than I love money and the things I can get if I choose to work more. "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." (I Timothy 6:9-10) In our society, you can either have more time, or have more money. More time needs to be made to enjoy and appreciate the things and family that we have. Things that make me happier are things that give me more free time to spend with my family and enjoy the things that I have. If that means that I have to do without the latest and greatest, I will be happier for it because. 

We love to complain at work. 

That's where we spend most of our time these days. Have you ever spent time with a coworker who complains about EVERYTHING? It is the negative person who plays the victim that will bring you down with them if you are the one who listens to his rants. You spiral down with them into a pit of misery, discontent, and groaning. These people love to complain about the boss or how much they are paid. At least they do, until you stop listening to them. I think this is a good teaching opportunity for some who aren't Christians, but if they are Christians, they shouldn't be doing that. Philippians 2:14 says that a Christian should do all things without grumbling or complaining. If it's about money, a Christian should have enough faith to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let [their] requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). If your boss treats you badly, even slaves were instructed to "regard their bosses as worthy of all honor" (1 Tim 6:1). Even from an earthly standpoint, complaining in the workplace doesn't benefit anyone. This is another opportunity that you have to be THANKFUL. Appreciate your boss for the place that he has set up that allows you to do something fulfilling. If it isn't fulfilling, maybe you should find something else that you will appreciate. Don't quit until you have another job lined up, and that might take a while, but be thankful for your job while you have it. If it wasn't for your job, you would not have the ability to support your family, provide food for the table, live in the house you live in, and so on. Most people work for a sole proprietorship, so Bosses give you money out of their own pocket in most cases! That's a weeks salary that you are given that they are losing. Appreciate your boss. Love your job, or find a different one that you can love because you will generally be more successful (however you measure that) doing something you enjoy. 

We don't appreciate our spouses. 

This is another one that affects people's jobs and marriages. People love to complain about their wives and husbands. I know I've done it. I know my wife has done it. There are certain things that all wives complain about like a man not cleaning, helping with the kids, giving her enough attention, being affectionate, or any number of things. There are certain things that all men complain about like a woman not shutting up about him not cleaning, helping with the kids, giving her enough attention, being affectionate, or any number of things. Haha I joke I joke. In all seriousness, we shouldn't tell others about a problem we are having with our spouse unless you are genuinely asking for advice from that person. Otherwise, you are just tearing your spouse down in a setting where s/he cannot defend her/himself and embarrassing him or her (a distractingly difficult sentence to read). It's important to know that men get their self esteem from being accomplished at work while women get their self esteem from encouragement from their spouse. I heard that from our marriage counselor. We live in a society where men and women work. We aren't really wired to do it the way that we do, but modern society demands it. Men and women work their hands to the bone every day. When we get home, we want to relax, but the work isn't over. Above, I blame this on materialism, but that is just one factor. For some, it's making ends meet. Either way, this is a lot of stress on a relationship. A husband and wife should spend about 15 hours one on one every week. Use this time to talk about your day and rely on each other, but also to share good times and enjoy one another's company. Stress from work should push you together instead of tearing you apart because your wife is your rock and you are hers. Being thankful and letting your spouse know that you are thankful is one step in the right direction. "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ loved the church." (Eph 5:25) You better appreciate your wife and tell her that you love her, or she's going to be unhappy. In turn, she will make you unhappy. Ain't nobody happy if momma is unhappy. This really applies to women as well. Don't tell your husband that he doesn't do anything when he gets home from work and is stressed out. That's not exactly a good way to get men to start doing something. It's a lot easier and more gentle to just ask us to do something specific. Most husbands,  I believe, would respond better to that. There are two parts of this. Be thankful to your spouse for all they do, AND be thankful to God for the gift he has given you. 

We aren't involved in ministry/charity.

How many of you readers have been involved in a local ministry or even a ministry abroad? Many of us are involved, but the vast majority of people that fill the pews of the churches aren't involved in a ministry of the church. How many churches are out there that don't even participate in ANY local missions? Classes need to be taught and the building needs to be serviced, but we are called to do more than just serve other Christians. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:27).  The thing is, ministry doesn't only benefit the people being ministered to. We get joy from it even if it is just because we know that we helped someone else. In some cases it is very reassuring to see the joy on the faces of people when you give to them or pull them out of a bad situation. Giving your money helps, but it is completely different to give of your time and see the benefit of your work for yourself. Seeing those who have need and how much they appreciate the little you give them can help you see that you have much more than you need. Instead of focusing on yourself and the things you don't have, you can focus on the needs of another individual. Donating money is good, but you will never see what good you have done until you get personally involved. The Church needs soldiers. "I don't have time to be directly involved in ministry." If we all wanted to use that excuse, we would all be able to say that. The fact of the matter is, you make time for the things you really want to do. Make time to serve others. The opportunity doesn't just fall in your lap. At Rossville COC, we have the harvest house where we feed families every Thursday. We have our inner city ministry where we bus children in from the projects and inner city, feed them, and give them a bible lesson. We have a ladies ministry, shut in ministry, ministry to the widows of the church, and the list goes on. Many churches don't GIVE you these opportunities to serve. That's why if there isn't a ministry going on at your church, here are a few ideas to get started. No one else will create it. YOU have to. Many in the first century church sold all they had in Acts 2 and had all things in common, and no one had need. They were thankful for what they had. We can take an example from them. 

I pick these things because this is what affects me in my day to day struggle. There are many things that affect us and make us ungrateful, and a lot more I could have said. These are just the things I see and struggle with.