Seeds of Wisdom

NEVER TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED 

Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:18

Taking someone for granted reflects a failure to express appreciation for deserving individuals, often due to over-familiarity. This ingratitude extends to benefactors, and in the case of one's relationship with God, it is particularly perilous. Many individuals, out of excessive familiarity, fail to recognise God's blessings and mistakenly assume entitlement to them. The tendency to overlook God's role as the source of blessings is widespread. People often realise the true nature of these gifts only when temporarily denied access or facing their loss. This lack of appreciation is characterised as ingratitude, and a call to repentance is issued to those guilty of it. The warning emphasises the importance of not becoming too accustomed to God's blessings and emphasises that worshipping the blessings over the One who bestowed them amounts to idolatry.

Romans 1:21 highlights the consequences of failing to glorify God and express gratitude, resulting in futile thoughts and darkened hearts. The passage underscores the significance of acknowledging even seemingly ordinary aspects of life, such as sleeping and waking up, as blessings from God.

Psalm 91:5 is invoked to emphasise the need for gratitude, referencing the potential dangers faced during the night and day. The narrative draws a parallel with the story of Hannah, who, after God granted her request for a child, expressed gratitude by returning to Shiloh to fulfil her vow. The text concludes with a cautionary admonition against defaulting on vows made to God in desperation and urges against taking God for granted. Therefore, my admonition to you is never to take God for granted.

Further Reading: Luke 17:10-19, Psalm 116: 1-19, 1 Samuel 1:1-28.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful and grant me the grace not to take You for granted.