Ingratitude

I think the ugliest condition of man is that of ingratitude. Consider the recipient of something great and undeserved who doesn’t appreciate it. Have you ever been more hurt than when you carefully planned a gift or surprise for a loved-one who seemed totally unmoved by your efforts? 

In this country, it seems to me, that we have a plague of ingratitude. Imagine a nation that performs less for a greater reward with less thanksgiving. We are richer than almost any nation. Poverty, real starving poverty, is practically unknown. Most people I know have their own car and smart phone and don’t work more than 40 hours a week. There biggest food problem is eating too much; never not having enough to eat. They go to bed knowing their children are well-fed, sheltered and safe. They think housing, health care and retirement income are rights. 

Yet they complain. Their neighbor has more. Their possessions demand maintenance tribute. Like Rodney Dangerfield, they don’t get no respect.  Considering the real struggles of most of the world, our complaints are pathetic. 

My parents never owned their home. They didn’t have a car of their own until I was in high school. You can’t understand the meaning of hand-me-downs until you are in a family of 9 kids. In my parent’s world I would have been considered rich. 

I believe that this kind of ingratitude defines the “unforgivable sin.”  After God sacrificed his only begotten son for us; our ingratitude at the sacrifice and refusal to trust in Him and follow, is unforgivable. 

I don’t know the eventual fate of those who never hear the gospel or who don’t live long enough to understand and accept it. But I have to believe that’s really not relevant. We’ve heard, multiple times, in multiple ways. We stand without excuse. We dare not respond with ingratitude.

Look around in your life. Do you really appreciate what others have sacrificed for you. Or are you constantly considering your glass half full. Don’t be one of the ugly Americans.

Be grateful for all His gifts, especially His son.

Nick