Ungrateful - Day 95

Ungrateful

By Mike Stickler

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

I have raised two incredible boys into fine men. My wife and I have been very blessed by God’s faithfulness in their lives. Along the way, He has taught us much about His character through them.

As my boys were growing up – as teens and young men do – each had a long list of things they wanted. Computers, games, cars, 24-hour chauffeur service… you get the picture. But my wife and I were raised to earn those things you desired with hard work and saving, which leads to thankfulness.

Over the years, at times the boys would be blessed with something we knew they wanted in particular. On birthdays, their grandparents would send that desired cold hard cash.

They were also given a set of chores to do, with no compensation in mind. It was part of living in a family, and families pull together to make a harmonious household.

We noticed as we all got older that gratitude for those blessings was not properly expressed there became a reticence in our hearts to not be as generous as we had been in the past. At one point, one of the grandparents stopped sending birthday cards with money because they hadn’t been thanked the previous year.

I think that’s a human frailty. God never withdraws his generosity from us. Though I agree that it becomes easier when gratitude is expressed, but, for God, it is not a requirement. “Because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Today’s Generosity Challenge:
Have you withdrawn your generosity from someone who has not expressed gratitude? Does someone come to mind as you read this? Tell us about how you have held back from the ungrateful and what you believe the Holy Spirit is leading you to do today. Now go do it.

Write down your experience below and share with others going through similar times.

About Michael Stickler

Mike is an author, radio host, and a highly sought after motivational speaker. His best-selling book, A Journey to Generosity, is widely acclaimed throughout the Christian community. He is the publisher of Generous Living Magazine and writes for the Christian Post, 'A Generous Life' column.