Thanks Living: Unthankful

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Don't think being unthankful is a 'big deal'? Read these verses again.

Look at the list:

Lovers of themselves: friend; expresses experience-based love

Lovers of money: greedy

Boasters: empty pretender

Proud: with an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty

Blasphemers: speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, abusive

Disobedient to parents: impersuasible, uncompliant, contumacious

UNTHANKFUL: ungracious

Unholy: impious, wicked

Unloving: without natural affection

Unforgiving: implacable, irreconcilable

Slanderers: prone to accuse falsely

Without self-control: given to or characterized by excessive indulgence

Brutal: fierce, savage

Despisers of good: hostile to virtue and to those that are good

Traitors: betrayer

Headstrong: rash, reckless, act without thinking

Haughty: to inflate with self-conceit, high-minded

Lovers of pleasure: characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure

RATHER THAN: it is opposed to something else and does away with it

Lovers of God: fond of God, i.e. Pious 

Having the form of godliness: appearance of respect of God

Denying: disavow, reject, abnegate, refuse

Power: strength, mighty (wonderful) work

Turn away: to shun, avoid

We all would have to agree that we do like people who exhibit these characteristics. And included in this list is "unthankful". So, it is a big deal. 

Unthankful. Ungrateful. 

Not feeling or showing pleasure, relief, or gratitude.

Careless, cruel, heedless, inappreciative, rude, self-centered, thoughtless, unappreciated, unappreciative, ungracious, ungrateful, unmindful.

Unthankful. 

This is an attitude that makes us bitter and open to all the other characteristics lists in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Look at the list again. If one is truly thankful, than that sets self aside. And to me, this list looks like the focus is on "me, myself, and I".  Perhaps beginning with changing the attitude of "unthankful" to "thankful", the entire list would change to characteristics of true lovers of God. 

Thanks Living, is important as it is one of the foundations for truly loving God and respecting and honoring God. 

My prayer is that I have a thankful heart and attitude.

Proverbs 13:2-6 Lazy. Diligent.

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. Proverbs 13:2-6

Lazy man desires nothing. No motivation. No passion. Little effort produces little reward. 

The soul of the diligent—shall be made rich! The drive, the passion, the motivation—the excitement and anticipation! 

Sadly, our culture has created a victim mentality that enforces a "I deserve ............", "You owe me." Rather than a mentality of pride in our work and effort. 

The soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. All you have to do to know that is true, is look at the news. Reports of crime fill the news. And the majority of those who commit the crimes are lazy and want things for which they have done nothing to earn. 

There are many areas in which we can become lazy—physical (work, exercise), emotional (caring for others), and spiritual (Bible study, church). Each area produces its own rewards. 

Am I lazy? That's a question which we need to ask ourselves daily. For laziness can creep in slowly as we make excuses. And soon, we'd become accustomed to expertly others to do it all for us. 

Am I lazy? To answer that question truthfully, I must search my heart. If my heart is really permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then I'll see any areas in which laziness has a hold. 

Lazy. Diligent. Two opposites each with their own outcome. 

Proverbs 2:21-22: Opposites

For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it. Proverbs 2:21-22

These two verses are about contrast. Upright vs Wicked and Blameless vs Unfaithful. 

Upright: that which is right, pleasing in the eyes of, agreeable to God

Wicked: one guilty of crime, deserving punishment; guilty of hostility to God

Blameless: wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity: of God's way

Unfaithful: act or deal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully

Agreeable to God vs Hostile to God. Integrity vs Deceit. Opposites. And each is a choice as to the Verbs and modifiers you choose. 

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you... Proverbs 2:1. Receive and Treasure God's words of wisdom....

Who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths. Proverbs 2:14, 15 Rejoice in doing evil, delight in perversion.....

Contrast. Opposites. Choices. Actions and Results. Cause and Effect. 

Which group to you fall under? Upright or wicked? Blameless or Unfaithful. Remember you are to using your own personal standard to decide. The standard is set by God. 

When one fears God and has a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31) then the choice will be to listen to Wisdom and act in accordance with God's Word.