As Christians we have the tendency to overlook some aspects of discipleship. For example, we are asked to deny ourselves. Our Lord Jesus has instructed us in that direction: “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

Our goal is to use every means that the Lord has given to us in His service and leave the results to Him.

We see the blessing of this sacrifice in the life of Job—a life of obedience to God and service to his fellowmen. “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:  Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out” (Job 29:11–16). 

By working in this direction, God will bless us to continue blessing others, our heart will be filled with praises and thanksgiving to God, and we will experience the difference between being merely a religious person and being a real Christian.

What if we are not living a life of service? Then we must reexamine our motives and review our life before God:

“With many, the rubbish of the world has clogged the channels of the soul. Selfishness has controlled the mind and warped the character. Were the life hid with Christ in God, His service would be no drudgery. If the whole heart were consecrated to God, all would find something to do, and would covet a part in the work. They would sow beside all waters, praying and believing that the fruit would appear. The practical, God-fearing workers will be growing upward, praying in faith for grace and heavenly wisdom that they may do the work devolving upon them with cheerfulness and a willing mind.”2

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26).  

“The plan of salvation was laid in a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ did not send His angels to this fallen world, while He remained in heaven; but He Himself went without the camp, bearing the reproach. He became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Himself took our infirmities, and bore our weaknesses. And the absence of self-denial in His professed followers, God regards as a denial of the Christian name. Those who profess to be one with Christ, and indulge their selfish desires for rich and expensive clothing, furniture, and food, are Christians only in name. To be a Christian is to be Christlike.

“And yet how true are the words of the apostle: ‘For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s’ (Philippians 2:21). Many Christians do not have works corresponding to the name they bear. They act as if they had never heard of the plan of redemption wrought out at infinite cost.”3

“Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the meaning of self-sacrifice. The cross of Christ is the central pillar on which hangs the ‘far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’ (2 Corinthians 4:17). [Matthew 16:24 quoted.] It is the fragrance of our love for our fellowmen that reveals our love for God. It is patience in service that brings rest to the soul.”4

The apostle Paul had a fervent love for the souls for whom he labored. What caused it? A commitment to bring glory to God and to be joyful at all times. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:15–18).

The love of Jesus was Paul’s only motive. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15). The apostle was a man who had learned the true meaning of thanksgiving, even when he faced great adversity. Even in the time of imprisonment (Acts 16:25), he lived by his own advice to be “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19, 20).

The Bible tells us that whatever we have is not ours and that everything is the Lord’s property—and we have to give thanks to God because He has allowed us to enjoy the benefits of it. King David recognized this when “David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” (1 Chronicles 29:10–14).  

Everything belongs to God and was given to us to help everyone else around us. This is the motive of true religion, as the Lord explains: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:6–8).

The principle of helping others goes hand-in-hand with the principle of thanksgiving; both of them are moved by the love of God. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3.

What happens as we put these principles of service and thanksgiving into daily practice?

“The whole being is to be consecrated to the service of the Master.”5

“No one can be truly united with Christ, practicing His lessons, submitting to His yoke of restraint, without realizing that which he can never express in words. New, rich thoughts come to him. Light is given to the intellect, determination to the will, sensitiveness to the conscience, purity to the imagination. The heart becomes more tender, the thoughts more spiritual, the service more Christlike. In the life there is seen that which no words can express—true, faithful, loving devotion of heart, mind, soul, and strength to the work of the Master.”6

With thanksgiving and praise we continually show that Christ is living in us. “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth” (Psalm 105:1–5).

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. . . . Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:1, 2, 15).

“Brethren and sisters, the Lord is our God. If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we have a hope in God that it is impossible for us to keep to ourselves. We will praise Him. We do not praise Him as much as we should. Whoso offers praise glorifies God. Now instead of speaking doleful words, and telling of our trials and afflictions, let us thank God that we can speak at all, and resolve that we will endeavor to glorify His name.”7

When difficult times come into our lives, how can difficulties be turned into positive experiences?

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9).

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

“When someone asks how you are feeling, do not try to think of something mournful to tell in order to gain sympathy. Do not talk of your lack of faith and your sorrows and sufferings. The tempter delights to hear such words. When talking on gloomy subjects, you are glorifying him. We are not to dwell on the great power of Satan to overcome us. Often we give ourselves into his hands by talking of his power.... Have we not reason to be thankful every moment, thankful even when there are apparent difficulties in our pathway?”8

We cannot deny the fact that sometimes sadness and grief take place in our lives. This is the effect of sin, and has been since the enemy of souls introduced it into this earth at the dawn of human history. But there is a cure for sadness and grief, as found in the following Bible verses:

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13).

“The Lord Jesus wants us to bear a pleasant countenance, and to speak kind, sympathetic words. Even if we are sick, or if we feel out of sorts, we need not tell others. If we will talk of the goodness of the Lord, this will act as a cure for sadness and grief.”9

“Make it a rule never to utter one word of doubt or discouragement.”10

What topic should we avoid, as much as possible, in our conversation?

“The more you dwell upon discouragement, talking to others about your trials, and enlarging upon them, to enlist the sympathy which you crave, the more discouragements and trials you will have. Why mourn over that which we cannot avoid? God is inviting us to close the windows of the soul earthward and open them heavenward that He may flood our hearts with the glory which is shining across the threshold of heaven.”11 “Even under temptation, our language may be that of faith and hope and courage.”12

An ungrateful heart is the result of bitterness, selfishness and dissatisfaction. Please, let us be a people with gratitude and joy for our salvation; let us show a spirit of happiness and thankfulness.

All around us we can see the spirit of ingratitude and a lack of thankfulness. Children do not give thanks to their parents for all that they do to favor them. We take for granted the ways that others help us. And God is forgotten in our daily activities. The result is that people are more miserable and ungracious. They’re always looking ahead of them to see who has more or what others have achieved—and when they see the blessings that others have then a spirit of discontent and envy takes control of them. Look behind you and see others that have nothing—that are living with the minimum that they can get. Some don’t even have a house or a car, not enough clothes and despite this, they live their lives with joy, happiness, and peace. A heart that is indifferent to the mercies and blessings of God becomes an ungrateful heart. We are dependent on God for everything. Why should we be thankful? For each blessing that we receive, an action of thanksgiving should be presented to our Lord.

Remember, ingratitude is a sin and darkens the heart (Romans 1:21).

Give thanks to God always and think about the things that you have and praise Him for them. The following are some suggestions for which you may give thanks to God every day:

Thank God for the blessings that He gives you to sustain your family and help your children to form their life in this world (1 Chronicles 29:12–14).

Thank God even if you are not having a good time in your life. Even when those whom you consider your best friends have abandoned you, it is good to remember that He will never leave you. (James 1:2-4, Isaiah 41:10, 13).

Thank God for Jesus Christ, the salvation given to you by the merits of His sacrifice and His blood. (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Thank God for the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us with His power and wisdom. (John 16:7; 14:26).

Thank God for the presence of the good angels that always protect us from the attacks of Satan. (Psalm 34:7).