The Ingrate Trail – A Sermon About Gratitude • | Shabbat Services | Founded in Truth Fellowship

In this insightful Bible teaching delivered at Founded in Truth Fellowship, the speaker, likely Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound significance of gratitude in our lives and our relationship with God. The sermon emphasizes that gratitude is not merely a polite social custom but a fundamental principle that influences our contentment, joy, and overall spiritual well-being. Drawing from biblical narratives and the wisdom of both ancient pagan philosophers and Christian apostles, the teaching illuminates how a lack of gratitude, or ingratitude, can lead to discontentment, hardship, and even be considered a grave offense against God.

The speaker begins by sharing a personal anecdote about the passing of his father, illustrating how the pain of loss eventually transitioned into gratitude for the time shared. This personal reflection sets the stage for exploring the deeper theological implications of gratitude. The teaching then references Seneca, a Roman philosopher contemporary with the apostles, who recognized that never being content is a primary driver of sinful nature and that failing to appreciate the benefits received is a terrible foundation. This pagan insight is echoed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:21, where he describes those who “neither glorified him nor gave him thanks” for God’s blessings. Paul further elaborates in Romans 1:28, listing negative attributes like disobedience to parents, lack of understanding, fidelity, love, and mercy, connecting these to a fundamental lack of thankfulness. The act of thankfulness is linked to giving glory and praise to God, a natural response when we recognize the source of our blessings. The ancient practice of raising hands in worship and gratitude towards deities and kings is also mentioned as a visual representation of this inherent human expression.

The core of the sermon explores the biblical narrative of the Exodus as a powerful illustration of ingratitude and its consequences. The Israelites, freed from slavery in Egypt through miraculous displays of God’s power, repeatedly grumbled and complained despite witnessing God’s provision and deliverance. From questioning why Moses brought them into the desert to die (Exodus 14:11) to lamenting the lack of water and food even after the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the provision of manna, their consistent lack of gratitude is highlighted. The speaker emphasizes that their complaints stemmed from a place of never being content with God’s blessings. This pattern of ingratitude continued even after reaching the oasis of Moriah where the water was bitter (Exodus 15:23) and upon the return of the twelve spies from the promised land, where fear and doubt overshadowed the initial positive reports, leading to further grumbling and a desire to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:2). The consequence of this pervasive ingratitude was severe: the entire generation that left Egypt was barred from entering the Promised Land.

The teaching posits that there is a direct correlation between the level of gratitude in one’s life and the level of joy and happiness experienced. The speaker suggests that persistent struggles and “brick walls” in life could be rooted in unacknowledged ingratitude. Recognizing and identifying ingratitude is presented as the first step towards overcoming it. Contentment, the opposite of the never-ending desire that fuels ingratitude, is presented as a key to happiness. Quoting Rabbi Judah Schachtel, the sermon emphasizes that true happiness comes from contentment, not from constantly chasing after something else. The message of Yeshua (Jesus) is also aligned with this idea: to stop focusing on what we lack and to embrace what God has already given us. Difficult circumstances, while unpleasant, are suggested to be part of God’s plan, and our inability to see the bigger picture often leads to discontentment. Just as the Israelites couldn’t see beyond their immediate hardships to the ultimate promise, we too may fail to recognize the purpose in our present struggles.

The sermon also touches upon the concept of entitlement as a significant barrier to gratitude. When we feel entitled to the blessings in our lives – our relationships, possessions, or opportunities – we fail to recognize them as gifts deserving of thanks. The story of Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden is reinterpreted through the lens of a lack of contentment and a failure to take responsibility. Adam’s response to God, blaming Eve for giving him the forbidden fruit, is presented as an example of this lack of gratitude and contentment. Similarly, the metaphorical fall of the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28, often associated with Satan’s fall, is attributed to pride and an insatiable desire for more, a failure to be thankful for the highest position of honor. This suggests that a life characterized by constant dissatisfaction and a relentless pursuit of more might be echoing the very sin of rebellion rooted in ingratitude.

The teaching concludes by emphasizing the importance of cultivating a mindset of gratitude, especially during times of hardship. Seeing challenges as potential blessings, even “unfulfilled blessings” that are yet to come, can shift our perspective from complaint to thankfulness. The personal anecdote about grieving for a loved one returning to joy through gratitude for the memories serves as a powerful illustration of this transformative power. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a conscious effort to recognize the gifts in our lives, to express thankfulness, and to find contentment in our present circumstances, trusting in God’s plan even when it’s not fully understood. By doing so, we can break free from the cycle of ingratitude and experience greater joy, peace, and a deeper connection with God.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Practice Daily Thankfulness: Make a conscious effort each day to identify and acknowledge the blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem.
• Express Gratitude to Others: Verbally thank the people in your life for their actions, kindness, and presence. Don’t take relationships for granted.
• Find Contentment in Your Current Circumstances: Instead of constantly focusing on what you lack, try to appreciate what you have right now.
• Reframe Challenges: When facing difficulties, try to look for potential lessons or opportunities for growth, viewing them as part of a larger story.
• Avoid Entitlement: Recognize that the good things in your life are gifts, not entitlements. Cultivate a mindset of appreciation rather than expectation.
• Remember God’s Faithfulness: Reflect on past instances where God has provided for you or brought you through difficult times. This can foster trust and gratitude in the present.
• Pray with Thankfulness: Make thankfulness a regular part of your prayer life, expressing gratitude to God for His blessings.
• Serve Others: Focusing on the needs of others can shift your perspective away from your own wants and cultivate a greater sense of gratitude for what you have.
• Reflect on the Exodus Story: Remember the Israelites’ mistakes and learn from their pattern of ingratitude, striving to respond differently in your own life.
• Cultivate a Long-Term Perspective: Recognize that your current situation is not the end of the story. Trust that God has a plan and that future blessings may be on the way.

Books and Resources Mentioned

• The Bible by Various Authors
• Rabbi Shalom Arush Books