Appreciation

Appreciation

Everyone knows it’s important to be grateful for what we have and what we’ve been given. We teach our kids to say please and thank you, write notes, and make calls after someone has given them a gift. in fact, there’s even a response to “Thank you” a “You’re welcome” acknowledges that the receiver understand a gift or act has been given and properly noticed.

But in all the time I’ve read the parable of the talents, the prodigal son, and the story of Jacob and Esau – while I recognized that not valuing the gift was bad, I never quite equated the lack of appreciation as godlessness until this morning. Hebrews 12:16 says “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” 

I’ve thought a lot over the years about how God gives you gifts so that you can honor Him with them; how foolish the prodigal was to leave his father’s house to chase after worldly pleasures; and, how ridiculous it was to trade dinner for an inheritance. I’ve even spent time thinking about how even though Jacob isn’t necessarily the most upstanding guy in the Bible- he certainly grabs a good thing when he sees it, whether it’s an inheritance from his brother or a blessing from an angel. He is blessed because he appreciates the value of the gift.

While I recognized the foolishness of Esau’s choice and could understand that a person who does not value what is being given doesn’t deserve to have it, I never thought about that rising to the level of “godlessness.” That idea significantly more  arresting. 

That means that gratitude doesn’t just come with a blessing, it means that ingratitude comes with a curse. It means that you don’t just lose what you have been blessed with if you don’t appreciate it – you are godless. It means that you do not acknowledge, believe, or revere God, and possibly that you are wicked, evil or unprincipled. 

If we know that every good and perfect thing comes from above (James 1:7), then we know that everything we have been blessed with: our bodies, our lives, our families, or resources, should be cared for and appreciated to a level that illustrates that shows we believe that God is the one who gave it. 

Suddenly not eating right or exercising the way I should, letting my home get cluttered, or procrastinating about “that thing” I need to take care of suddenly took on more gravity. 

Being gratuful isn’t simply saying “Thank you” after the gift, when the deed is done, or as a maatter of course in polite conversation. Really showing gratitude to God for all His provision requires us to step back and acknowledge that everything we posess, every breath we take,  every talent we have comes from Him.

It’s not our doing.

Taking care of the blessings God has provided should be a joy and an honor, and I, for one, need to start praising Him for it all.