What happens when a person is not grateful?  Does it matter at all?  Are there costs for this behavior or do things just go on without change?  The Bible looks at gratefulness or its synonym thankfulness as a commanded response to the gifts and grace we are given.  Let us take a look at several Bible verses which support this view of significance.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  Psalms 100:4  It appears that as his children though we are blessed with the access to the throne room of God we are enter such circumstances with thankfulness and praise of God’s Name.  What happens when we come into this hallowed relationship without thanks and praise?  I will leave that up to your imagination, however my recommendation is that those who have approached God in a manner of irreverence have always received instant and swift justice.  My advice, do not trifle with God.  Do not for your own sake take this relationship lightly.  He may be our “Daddy” but He is also Holy and there is a price for nonchalance.

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Romans 1:21  This passage in Romans talks about the fact that “all” know the truth of God and choose to either accept or turn away from that truth to their own wickedness.  It appears that the price of not being grateful to God for the offer of Grace leads to vanity, imagination and darkness of the heart.  I am thankful for the gift of Grace and the amazing fact that God loved me enough to redeem me in relationship.  Anything else would be foolhardy.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Colossians 3:15  In this passage Paul admonishes us to be thankful for the peace and fellowship of the church.  These things are priceless and because we could not purchase them we should have hearts that are grateful that we have been given that beyond price.  Again we are faced with the spirit of reverence and appreciation for the gravity of God.  Being un-thankful leads to pride and we all know pride is the pathway to all sin.  My advice don’t take one step on a path that you know leads to darkness and separation from God.

Praise You Father for all that You have done.  Thank You.  Jesus a name above all.  Amen