INGRATITUDE – NUM 11:4-9, 3:31-35

 

What is it?

“Forgetfulness of, or poor return for kindness received.” Not appreciating or valuing what you have, or have been given. Like the nation of Israel, many people don’t have time for thankfulness to God. They keep grumbling and complaining. An ungrateful attitude exists in our human nature.

 

1.     Characteristics – Num 11:4-9

a)     Murmuring v. 4

This is an expression of either private or public discontent or dissatisfaction. It is to complain and grumble in a low voice, stir up trouble for others. We are living in a generation of murmurers.  Murmuring seems to come naturally. A basic cause of murmuring is that too many of us seem to expect that life will flow ever smoothly, featuring an unbroken chain of green light all through.

 

In murmuring we become manipulative, gossipers, and cowards who try to propagate a dangerous sentiment of favouritism. It makes us distort God’s loving purpose as we become self-seeking and misrepresent the truth of God’s love.

b)    Covetousness – Intense craving, greed, lust and wish. It is an attitude of nothing is ever enough, always appearing needy, and forget that as long as we live, we will always have needs. There can never be a time in our life when one apparently have everything and anything that we want. You might not be where you want to be, but you are somewhere and you should be grateful for it.

c)     Lamentation over what we do not have vs 45.

The people wept for lack of meat to eat. They remembered the fish, onions, leeks, cucumbers and garlic they ate in Egypt, but they forget the boundage they went with what they ate. What we forget is that someone is praying to be like you, be in your place, become what you are and celebrate. Yet, what you don’t have so dominated your mind that God appears not to have delivered on His word. (Ikorodu experience).

d)    Despising our daily miracles vs 6 & 7

Israel complained that all they had was just manna. In fact they said “except this manna before our eyes”. They never had to work for it, they always woke up to collect it before sun-rise. It was a daily provision. Yet this manna is “corn of heaven” Ps 78:24, “bread of heaven” Jn 6:31. They were fed with heaven’s delight yet it meant nothing to them. Are we not like them today? How do we react to those who give us little or nothing during our ceremonies?

 

2.     Consequences of Ingratitude

a)     Loss of spirituality – 11:4

Whereas, the spiritual temper refers everything to its heavenly origin and author. The ungrateful mind takes everything as it comes, without any conscious realization of its Divine source.

b)    Breakthrough becomes breakdown 11:33-34

While the meat was still between their teet is an expression that shows a breakdown completed process a dislocated dream. Ingratitude closes the door against the deeper blessings of life.

c)     Destruction of Dominion – 11:33-34

The Lord struck the people with a great plague because they were ungrateful to God. Many people are suffering because they are ungrateful to God or they did not lay it to heart to give thanks to God for whatever blessing that comes their way. We should give God thanks no matter how small the blessing may be in our eyes ungrateful keeps God away from us and attracts the enemy to our affairs.

 

3.     The Cure for Ingratitude – 11:35.

-         We should always enter His gates with thanksgiving and His court with praise.

-         Think of those “small, small things” that people do for you – opening a door for you, giving you a ride, providing a kind and reassuring word, counseling etc.

-         Loving family and friends.

-         Employment

-         Food, clothing, shelter etc

-         God’s word – God’s promises

-         Freedom to worship.