Living Beyond the Proverbial "Attitude of Gratitude"
Living Beyond the Proverbial
"Attitude of Gratitude"
[Originally published November 26, 2025]
"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."
2 Corinthians 4:15
Introduction
'Tis the season when we often hear the importance of displaying an "attitude of gratitude." Our celebrations of Thanksgiving arouse such sentiment, but for many a warm feeling is the full extent of their response. Surely there must be more to gratitude than emotion. Let us plumb the depths of this important characteristic and discover fresh ways to express gratitude in this season, as well as year round. One thing is certain for Christians. Gratitude is a response to God's gift of grace. This raises a key question for our consideration: What role does gratitude for God's gift of salvation truly play in our acts of Christian service to others?
The meaning of "gratitude"
Gratitude is the characteristic of being thankful. "It is a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness." Gratitude demonstrates the appropriate response to a benevolently-given gift. This quality is directed toward what someone is or has done for another. Gladness is also expressed toward the giver and affirms the bond between the benefactor and recipient. Gratitude also motivates actions, the chief of which are giving thanks, returning favors, and doing acts of kindness. We must also keep in mind that the truly grateful person does not see such actions as repayment of any kind of debt.
Two features of gratitude
God's grace. The heart of the Christian message is about the gift of grace that God has freely given to his people (Romans 6:23). Recipients of this gift are liberated from sin and death and receive admission to fellowship with God and participation in his kingdom (Galatians 2:20). We sinners, as a result, exhibit glad dependence upon God, the giver of our salvation. Genuine Christians know this truth, but we fail many times to consider that gratitude is our response that bonds us to Him in love. It is a vital way we demonstrate our awareness that God's grace is totally undeserved on our part.
Our response. First, we will choose to behave gratefully in our relationship with the Heavenly Father. One way to live thankfully is to express our thankfulness by doing the things He commands. One can certainly give without loving, which many people do, but one cannot encounter Christ's love without giving (Hosea 10:12; Luke 6:46). They are riveted together.
Secondly, we make grateful application of the gift of grace in a way that shows God we understand its significance and the proper ways to use it for His glory (see next section). Our witness to God's mercy and grace is made powerful when people see that our lives have been enriched by God's generosity, so that we serve as God's conduits of blessing to others (2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2:13). Thankfully, there are biblical examples of the link between grace and grateful acts of kindness.
Our response. First, we will choose to behave gratefully in our relationship with the Heavenly Father. One way to live thankfully is to express our thankfulness by doing the things He commands. One can certainly give without loving, which many people do, but one cannot encounter Christ's love without giving (Hosea 10:12; Luke 6:46). They are riveted together.
Secondly, we make grateful application of the gift of grace in a way that shows God we understand its significance and the proper ways to use it for His glory (see next section). Our witness to God's mercy and grace is made powerful when people see that our lives have been enriched by God's generosity, so that we serve as God's conduits of blessing to others (2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2:13). Thankfully, there are biblical examples of the link between grace and grateful acts of kindness.
Applied grace: Two biblical examples
The background to gratitude in action. Christians know the ongoing need for local and global hunger relief, so this deep moral need offers an excellent way to explore "thanks-in-action." Paul's two letters to the Corinthian church include a challenge to re-energize a commitment they had made to famine relief in Jerusalem. It provides us with an example of grace-inspired gratitude in action.
The backdrop to 2 Corinthians 8-9 lies in the deep need of the Jerusalem church (See1 Corinthians 16:1-4). The city had fallen destitute through the famines in Judea in the AD 40s. The appeal for donations was based upon “charity” and “unity” between the Gentiles and Jews in the church (cf. Acts 11:27-30; Galatians 2:10). The Corinthians had been eager to give toward the need, but had failed to follow through on their commitment (2 Corinthians 8:6). They had been taught the supreme value of love, so Paul challenged them to demonstrate that love by sharing an offering for people in dire need (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). We need to see the basis of moving from observing a serious need to the quick response to feed! Here it is.
The bridge. The bridge between God's grace demonstrated in the sacrificial gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to beneficent famine relief was built on the word grace. It is the catalyst for gratitude in action. Paul, in fact, uses the word “grace” ten times in 2 Corinthians 8-9 with various nuances in meaning. More than fifty percent of the eighteen uses in the letter occur here. I believe he wants us to see the importance of applied grace!
The gratitude witness. From a second perspective, the Macedonian churches also reveal the nature of grace-inspired gratitude (8:1-5). They modeled “grace-giving” that gives forward out of God’s reservoir (8:2). There was no way on earth the Macedonian believers could have come up with that offering were it not for God’s bountiful mercies. I know this fact to be true because Paul used the term “affliction” to describe their circumstances, which refers to the pressing out of grapes in a wine-press (cf. Gk., θλῖψις, “thlipsis”). God gives them grace, then He presses the Macedonians, and out comes the wine of graciousness that is then given to others.
The backdrop to 2 Corinthians 8-9 lies in the deep need of the Jerusalem church (See1 Corinthians 16:1-4). The city had fallen destitute through the famines in Judea in the AD 40s. The appeal for donations was based upon “charity” and “unity” between the Gentiles and Jews in the church (cf. Acts 11:27-30; Galatians 2:10). The Corinthians had been eager to give toward the need, but had failed to follow through on their commitment (2 Corinthians 8:6). They had been taught the supreme value of love, so Paul challenged them to demonstrate that love by sharing an offering for people in dire need (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). We need to see the basis of moving from observing a serious need to the quick response to feed! Here it is.
The bridge. The bridge between God's grace demonstrated in the sacrificial gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, to beneficent famine relief was built on the word grace. It is the catalyst for gratitude in action. Paul, in fact, uses the word “grace” ten times in 2 Corinthians 8-9 with various nuances in meaning. More than fifty percent of the eighteen uses in the letter occur here. I believe he wants us to see the importance of applied grace!
The gratitude witness. From a second perspective, the Macedonian churches also reveal the nature of grace-inspired gratitude (8:1-5). They modeled “grace-giving” that gives forward out of God’s reservoir (8:2). There was no way on earth the Macedonian believers could have come up with that offering were it not for God’s bountiful mercies. I know this fact to be true because Paul used the term “affliction” to describe their circumstances, which refers to the pressing out of grapes in a wine-press (cf. Gk., θλῖψις, “thlipsis”). God gives them grace, then He presses the Macedonians, and out comes the wine of graciousness that is then given to others.
An invitation to applied "thanks-living"
Many believers often look and live like spiritual plump grapes! Paul invites us to get pressed! The Macedonian church was severely persecuted, which in part included their being socially ostracized. This severe trial resulted in their economic impoverishment. Paul says that what emerged was the Christian fruit of the Spirit, which was joyful giving. These Gentiles actully gave applied grace back to the Jews (cf. Acts 10, Peter, the Jew, gives gospel grace to Cornelius, the Gentile). We've all heard exhortations to "give until it hurts," but grace transforms our generosity into "it hurts us not to give." What follows are some theological considerations for our year round application.
Eliminate miserliness and greediness. I recall pastor Chuck Swindoll warning against getting all we can, canning all we get, then sitting on the can! God's grace opens the can to feed the world. Great parts of our nation and the world live daily in the paralyzing grip of hunger. The pangs drain people of their hope. Many in America, however, have more financial reserves than entire people groups around the globe. Grace-motivated gratitude in action frees us from our miserly inaction to become agents of applied grace in our communities and world. It demonstrates the genuineness of our love for Christ (2 Corinthians 8:8-9).
Feed stomachs and souls with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, e.g. "kindness," and "goodness"). Paul uses spiritual language throughout the Corinthian passages, but we should note carefully what he states. In 2 Corinthains 8:4 he writes, “Begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” They raised money to feed people and also nourished them from the Spirit's fruit in their lives. Paul uses the Greek word for “ministry” to refer to providing support for the needs of the poor (cf. Acts 6:1; 11:29; 12:25). Notice a few of the spiritual 360-degree benefits stated as results from the simple act of giving: for example, “grace,” (8:4, 6, 7, 19), “sharing” (8:4; our word for “fellowship”), “partnership” and “ministry” (8:4; 9:1, 12, 13), “love” (8:7; 8, 24), and “blessing” (9:5).
Apply grace to feed people the gospel of hope. The ministry of applied grace gives witness to Christ’s own sacrificial gift (8:9). Christ’s offering of himself is God’s merciful action toward humankind. Paul reasons that a person with Christ’s love in heart will be moved to respond sacrificially once they consider this undeserved grace from God (1 John 3:16-20). Sadly, we too often plead for money to build the wrong buildings! Paul shows us how to build up the church with the good news of hope.
Eliminate miserliness and greediness. I recall pastor Chuck Swindoll warning against getting all we can, canning all we get, then sitting on the can! God's grace opens the can to feed the world. Great parts of our nation and the world live daily in the paralyzing grip of hunger. The pangs drain people of their hope. Many in America, however, have more financial reserves than entire people groups around the globe. Grace-motivated gratitude in action frees us from our miserly inaction to become agents of applied grace in our communities and world. It demonstrates the genuineness of our love for Christ (2 Corinthians 8:8-9).
Feed stomachs and souls with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, e.g. "kindness," and "goodness"). Paul uses spiritual language throughout the Corinthian passages, but we should note carefully what he states. In 2 Corinthains 8:4 he writes, “Begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” They raised money to feed people and also nourished them from the Spirit's fruit in their lives. Paul uses the Greek word for “ministry” to refer to providing support for the needs of the poor (cf. Acts 6:1; 11:29; 12:25). Notice a few of the spiritual 360-degree benefits stated as results from the simple act of giving: for example, “grace,” (8:4, 6, 7, 19), “sharing” (8:4; our word for “fellowship”), “partnership” and “ministry” (8:4; 9:1, 12, 13), “love” (8:7; 8, 24), and “blessing” (9:5).
Apply grace to feed people the gospel of hope. The ministry of applied grace gives witness to Christ’s own sacrificial gift (8:9). Christ’s offering of himself is God’s merciful action toward humankind. Paul reasons that a person with Christ’s love in heart will be moved to respond sacrificially once they consider this undeserved grace from God (1 John 3:16-20). Sadly, we too often plead for money to build the wrong buildings! Paul shows us how to build up the church with the good news of hope.
Conclusion
The quintessential example of grace in action is Jesus Christ (see Phil 2:5–11). "Though he was rich" means that Christ did not exploit his status for his own advantage, and neither should we. Instead, he surrendered His status to serve sinners like us (Phil 2:6). God’s grace calls for and enables the same actions from us. Our grace-inspired gratitude leads us to "be" liberal givers (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Kay Arthur, Bible teacher, reminds us, “God is in control, and therefore in everything I [we] can give thanks - not because of the situation, but because of the One who directs and rules over it.” Many of us have been crippled in some way following the 2020 global pandemic. We now have greater occasion to identify with others in their sufferings and to live out our gratitude for God's grace in thankful ways that point them to Christ. Let's be people of gratitude in this season and beyond. Let's move beyond an attitude of gratitude to put grace into action.
With gratitude,
Larry C. Ashlock
Kay Arthur, Bible teacher, reminds us, “God is in control, and therefore in everything I [we] can give thanks - not because of the situation, but because of the One who directs and rules over it.” Many of us have been crippled in some way following the 2020 global pandemic. We now have greater occasion to identify with others in their sufferings and to live out our gratitude for God's grace in thankful ways that point them to Christ. Let's be people of gratitude in this season and beyond. Let's move beyond an attitude of gratitude to put grace into action.
With gratitude,
Larry C. Ashlock
Posted in Pathway Perspectives