GRATITUDE

The Bible asks in Psa 116:12-13 “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? – I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.”

GOD’S BENEFITS are here compared to a cup brimming with salvation. It seems natural to speak of man’s lot, either of sorrow or joy, as the cup of which he drinks. The cup or lot of our life brims with instances of God’s saving help – “my cup runneth over,” and we ask, how may we thank Him enough? What shall we render unto Him, for all His gracious help?

There are many answers, and the first is, that we will Take. In other words, as one has truly said, Taking from God is the best giving to God, for God loves to give. James says: “He is the giving God, who gives not only liberally, but with no thought of personal advantage, and for the mere joy of giving?” What, then, will gratify Him more than to be trusted, to find recipients for His gifts, to know that we are prepared to be His debtors, owing Him ten thousand talents, with nothing to pay, but still receiving and receiving from His great heart of Love. Nothing hurts God more than that we should not take what He offers – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. God so loved that He gave,” and when we refuse to appropriate His greatest gift, we inflict the deepest indignity and dishonour of which we are capable.

Then, we must call upon His Name. “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” Psa 116:13-17. Take the Name of the Lord as a test. Friendships, plans, profits, amusements, studies, all these cups should be tested by this.

We must be sure to pay our vows. “I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,” Psa 116:14-18. “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” Ecc 5:4-5.

We make vows in our trouble, which we sometimes forget when it is past. Surely, it is the height of ingratitude not to redeem our promissory notes. All devoted things, which are laid on God’s altar, are absolutely His, and the giver forfeits all rights to their disposal.

Our gratitude demands the gift of ourselves. “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.” Psa 116:16. When Robinson Crusoe freed the poor captive, the man knelt before his deliverer, and put his foot upon his neck, in token of his desire to be his slave. The love of Christ, who loosed us from our bonds, constrains us to live not to ourselves but unto Him. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Rev 1:5. Loosed from the cords of sin, we become bound to the service of love.

PRAYER

“Father, we thank You for all the benefits that we have received from Your goodness. The best thanksgiving we can offer You is to live according to Your Holy will. (“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” 1Th 4:3.) Grant us every day to offer it more perfectly, and to grow in the knowledge of Your will and the love thereof. AMEN.”