When my children were little I wanted to encourage thankfulness so, like most other parents, I instructed them to say “Thank You” whenever they received anything from a piece of candy, to a compliment, to a pricey toy. They generally complied with my request, but sometimes they complied with more or less enthusiasm, and the degree of their heart felt thankfulness was revealed by their reaction to the gift.

Sometimes their response made me confident of their thankfulness and their appreciation for the sacrifice it took for the giver of the gift (usually me) to give the time, attention, and cash required to offer the gift. But the true degree of their thankfulness might become evident days, or maybe an hour later, when the gift was treated with disrespect or perhaps found abandoned and vulnerable to destruction.

It’s been a long time since my children Trick or Treated, but on October 31st I’ll be reminded of what it is to have a child express genuine thanks, and what it feels like to give to children with an attitude of ingratitude or entitlement.

I try not to judge small children because they are too shy to speak up and say, “Thank you” when you hand over that treat. And news bulletin: Not all children enjoy going door to door asking for candy. For the most part, I’ll see happy children and grateful children, but every year a child or two will respond to my generosity with a grumble of discontentment. It never fails.

The word “entitlement” is more than a buzzword. It’s an epidemic. It’s an epidemic that is infecting my attitude toward giving. Am I the only one who appreciates a bit of appreciation when I give? Am I the only one who sometimes feels used for what I have to give? We hear about the “entitled generation”, but I don’t think the attitude of entitlement is anything new. Even if it were, who raised up this entitled generation?

I want to be a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Over the past year, I’ve experienced how my cheerfulness in giving has little to do with the response of the perceived receiver. Remember how Jesus contrasted those who feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, take in strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and see to the needs of prisoners, with those who do none of those things (Matthew 25:34-46) ?

Jesus taught that to love and share with our neighbors is to love and share with Him. We can say “Thank You” in prayers and songs of praise. We can say “Thank You” to those who give to us, and reciprocate with sincerity, but our thanksgiving to God for what He has done for us is best expressed by obedience – the kind of obedience commanded in what Jesus called the second greatest commandment.

He made obedience to His commandments simple to understand. First: Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and secondly, love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:38-40). We have no excuse. No loopholes. Our obedience and thankfulness are inseparably married. We’re getting it wrong if we obey, yet grumble. We are liars when we offer thanksgiving, yet live comfortably in disobedience.

I could say, “No one is perfect.” That would be true, but it would also sound like an excuse or like I’m creating an exception. I can’t speak for everyone, but I tire with listening to excuses, and suppose there are those who tire when hearing mine.

Jonah and Daniel are two Old Testament prophets whose commitment to thankfulness was revealed by their response to what God asked. Their stories are good for more than a child’s bedtime. Jonah’s story (Jonah 1-4) is told in four short chapters, and the book of Daniel (Daniel 1-12) is twelve short chapters of good reading.

Jonah obeyed God, only after being in a fish’s belly for three days, then was angry when his reluctant obedience didn’t have the results he wanted. Could Jonah have been feeling a bit “entitled?”

Daniel was consistently obedient, even when God allowed evil people to enslave, threaten, and abuse him. Jonah and Daniel both helped a lot of people find God, but I’d rather live like Daniel lived, and when the final chapter of my life is written, I’d rather not be caught complaining and unthankful.

I mentioned that over the past year, I’ve experienced how my cheerfulness in giving has little to do with the response of the perceived receiver. It has everything to do with obedience – fearless, no excuses obedience. Come back to Wet Feet next Friday. I’ll be celebrating an anniversary of sorts, and it’s always better to celebrate with friends.

Read the stories of Jonah (Jonah 1-4) and Daniel (Daniel 1-12).
No questions or food for thought this week. The books Daniel and Jonah have plenty for you to think about.

Lord, Thank you for the great stories of the Bible. Thank you for this past year’s journey, and proving your promises can be trusted. Help me to try a little more thankfulness over the next few months. Amen