Thanksgiving is less than one week away. You may be expecting to eat copious portions of your favorite foods guilt-free (“It’s OK, it’s a holiday!”), or expecting to spend time with family you don’t get to see much anymore, or expecting to watch a Lions game without expecting them to lose.
We have great expectations, don’t we? Some may even call it an “entitlement mentality.” Children who grow up never knowing denial, delay, or deprivation of wants feel even more entitled. Youth who never hear the word “no” grow into adults with unrealistic & undeserved demands. They often expect large houses, late-model cars, & jobs that cater to their schedules. On the other hand, we sympathize with young people today who no longer have the same opportunities for the standard of living their parents & grandparents had at their age due to crushing inflation, college debt, & a weak job market.
How often are we disappointed in God for not giving us a better life or granting our every want? Jesus once healed 10 men of leprosy, but only one returned to praise God & thank Jesus (Luke 17:11-19). We don’t know why the other 9 didn’t, but Jesus must have been disappointed in their lack of response. And I would presume He’s likewise disappointed in our lack of gratitude so many times.
An ungrateful mindset says: “I want it now!” If you have to sit in the fast food drive-thru for more than 2 minutes, you shake your head. “Hey, Google, do what I say!” If it’s not instantaneous, we get agitated. We’re used to getting everything at a finger’s touch. How many Americans are up to their eyeballs in debt because they won’t wait, they only want. Entitlement leads to anxiety.
An ungrateful mindset says: “I deserve more!” Whether expecting better benefits, bigger paychecks, or longer vacations, entitlement drives discontentment. While much of the world looks at us with envy, we consider prosperity our birthright. “My TV isn’t big enough. My car’s already 4 years old–I need the latest features. I’ve got a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear.” Entitlement leads to greed.
How do we go from feeling entitled to grateful? It’s an intentional decision to have a gratitude mindset. As the praise song “Blessed Be Your Name” goes: “Every blessing you pour out, I’ll turn back to praise.” Why is that important? Because every blessing I don’t turn back to praise turns into pride & feeds entitlement.
A grateful mindset also turns complaints into contentment. It seems for many that complaining is their default response. But God calls us to do everything without complaining (Phil. 4:11-14). We should enjoy what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have (Ecc. 6:9). “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it” (Prov. 15:16). In other words, “Godliness with contentment is great gain…” (1 Tim. 6:6).
My favorite Disney animated movie since a toddler has been “The Jungle Book.” I loved Balloo the Bear singing about “The Bare Necessities.” Now I’ve gotten my 1-year-old granddaughter hooked on it, playing it over & over. But it actually has a great message: “Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities. Forget about your worries and your strife. I mean the bare necessities, that’s why a bear can rest at ease with just the bare necessities of life.” In a spoken part of the song, Balloo teaches his man-cub friend, Mowgli, to enjoy the simple pleasures: “And don’t spend your time lookin’ around for something you want that can’t be found. When you find out you can live without it and go along not thinkin’ about it, I’ll tell you something true–the bare necessities of life will come to you.”
A life of simplicity with God brings far more contentment than chasing after more stuff. Giving thanks has become more prominent in my daily prayers after I was recently reminded of the question: “What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?”
A gratitude mindset also turns attitude into action. When you’re grateful, you find a way to show it. The one who came back to thank Jesus for his healing “fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.” He didn’t just say it, he showed it. Will you stop long enough to write a thank you note to someone who impacted you? How about a small gift, a plate of cookies, or a bag of coffee for those who teach & serve your children or teenagers (at church, school, or on a team)? When’s the last time you did something nice to show appreciation to a loved one you may take for granted?
How do you show your gratitude to God? Besides telling him in prayer or song, you could give back to Him. All throughout Scripture people showed their gratitude through giving. God blesses us so we can bless others (2 Cor. 9:6-15). We can also serve others. Jesus says when you help a brother, you’re actually doing it for Him (Matt. 25:40). As we help others, especially those with real needs, it shatters that ungrateful entitlement attitude.