Grounded in Gratitude

1 Chronicles 16:23-34; Colossians 3:15-17

I don’t often focus on the title of a sermon, as the meat and potatoes are in whatever scripture passages have been chosen. However, this morning, I’d like to begin by focusing on the title for this morning’s sermon, “Grounded in Gratitude.” What does it mean to be grounded? Webster’s online dictionary defines grounded as “mentally and emotionally stable: admirably sensible, realistic.”  I think, in this case, it also has to do with being rooted in something, as when I planted the sunflowers we got last Sunday during fellowship in the flower bed. They are well-grounded, rooted in their new home.

Then there is the word “Gratitude.” This word means “to be in the state of being grateful, to be thankful.”

So, to put the two definitions together, to be grounded in gratitude is to be mentally and emotionally rooted in being grateful. It is to begin each day in a place of gratitude. That is a tall order these days with so much strife and difficult news going on all over our world. And it does NOT mean that we aren’t supposed to have other feelings of fear, doubt, anger, and worry. Those are all part of what the Creator gave us when we were made.

It has more to do with where you are grounded, rooted. How do you begin each day as you wake up? Are you grounded in gratitude? Are you grounded in fear? Are you grounded in worry? Are you grounded in anger? What you are grounded in, rooted in, shapes your worldview.

This morning, we will look at one example from scripture of an individual who demonstrates being grounded in gratitude. Then we will look at a passage addressed to a young congregation on how to live in this way. Finally, I will give you some ways to practice being grounded in gratitude.

Let’s begin by looking at the passage from 1^st Chronicles. 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles cover the reign of King David and his son Solomon. They were written about 500 years after David’s reign (1010-970 BC) and are a bit of revisionist history. There are no bad parts of David’s story in 1 Chronicles- just the good stuff (No Bathsheba or other difficult tales.) This book reads as if the king of Judah reigned during the golden age. The story illustrates the concept of being grounded in gratitude.

Despite some polishing by the Chronicler, his recounting of the basic facts of David’s reign is correct. How did he come to reign over Judah from 1010 BC to 970 BC? It really began with a long conflict with the Philistines, and David’s encounter with the giant Philistine warrior, Goliath, when David was a teenager. That victory over the Philistine army was the beginning of an approximate 20-year conflict.

Before today’s passage, we learn that the Philistine army has been victorious over the Israelites, and that their king, Saul, and his three sons have all been killed in battle. The line of succession has been wiped out. David, who by this time has been a successful leader in battle, assembles an army and strong field generals to fight against the Philistine foe. He is crowned king of Judah in Hebron at the age of 30, and the Philistines hear of the beginning of his reign and attack the Goliath-slayer. Two major battles were fought, with David praying to God for help. David’s army was victorious. The Philistines retreated from the land, and the long-standing conflict was over.

David then corrects a mistake by former King Saul, who had neglected the Ark of the Covenant for many years. David is grateful for their victory and wants to thank and praise God. He brings God’s ark into Jerusalem and places it under a tent of worship. The Levite priests are assigned as caretakers and worship leaders for God and the ark. The entire population of Jerusalem, only about 1,000 people in the 11^th Century BC, all received a loaf of bread, a big piece of meat, and a raisin cake.

Then David expresses his gratitude to God for the victory and for the beginning of his reign as King of Judah.

That brings us to this morning’s passage, which is a compilation of three of David’s psalms of gratitude for God (105, 96, and 106). His gratitude is wide and all-encompassing, to say the least!

When I say thank you to God for something, I focus on that thing. For example, when walking our dog on Friday morning on the golf course, I looked around at all the beauty before me and said, "Thank you for living in this incredible creation, right in my own backyard." I stopped there, but continued to enjoy the beauty around me as we walked the golf course.

David gives thanks to God for what has occurred on the battlefield, then expands his list of gratitude. Verse 1-22 of chapter 16, David thanks God for all of God’s wonderful works

• For the offspring of Abraham
• For God’s just judgments
• For God’s wonderful works in people’s lives and creation itself
• For God’s covenant with Abraham, and everlasting covenant to Israel as the people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before arriving in the promised land of Canaan.

Then we begin with today’s passage, the second half of the psalm. David continues his litany of gratitude.

•  For God’s salvation
• For God’s glory- God’s shining in the lives of the people
• For God’s greatness
• For God’s creation of the heavens- the sun, moon, and stars
• For God’s strength
• For God’s sovereignty over all the earth.

David then finishes the psalm by having creation itself rejoice- the sea, the fields, the trees singing for joy, and finishes with gratitude for God’s steadfast love. That is a LOT to be thankful for! David can be grateful for so much because he is grounded in gratitude, which enables him to see more than just one thing to give thanks for.

Now we move to the second focus, a passage from Paul’s authentic letter to the Christians in Colossae. Paul didn’t organize this congregation of believers. He never visited Colossae, but was asked to intervene by some of the leaders of this fledgling congregation as they experienced leadership struggles.

Paul encourages the Colossians to put Christ on like a garment and to seek “things that are above, where Christ is.” (3:1) rather than fighting over who leads them. He tells them that by living in faith, putting on Christ, their old nature has been replaced by a new one, and that their sole identity is that of Christ Jesus. Furthermore, they are reconciled to God through Christ, and therefore called to reconcile with each other, which leads to peace. He finishes this section encouraging them to follow Christ’s teachings, to sing praises to God with gratitude, and in whatever they do, to do everything grounded in gratitude for God.

So, these two examples come to us in scripture as being grounded in gratitude. Are there practical ways to live in this way today? Yes.

I found an article from Prevention Magazine on living from a place of gratitude. It is worth noting that much of what the article says dovetails well with both passages. According to clinical psychologist  Dr. Mary Ann Little, “Gratitude works to encourage recognition of the sources of goodness as being outside of the self,” she explains. “This requires an appreciation for the contributions of others and external events.” David recognizes the many contributions outside himself, giving thanks to God in his life, and our faith in Christ as new people, encourages us to live this way.

Here are some practical ways to live your life grounded in gratitude. Some of them may work for you. Some of them may not.

1. Begin each morning in prayer, thinking of the things in your life you are grateful for.
2. Express what you are grateful for out loud or in writing. Share those things with others. We will be doing just that in a bit.
3. Place visual reminders of what you are grateful for in your home or office. I have a picture of my baptism day from 1962, another picture of my wife, Paula, smiling when we were on our honeymoon 39 years ago, a wonderful picture of me hugging my grandson, Parker, an image of my parents on their 50^th wedding anniversary, a copy of Rembrandt’s famous painting  The Prodigal, and an image of the SOU Women’s softball team all in my office reminding me of some of the many people and things to be grateful for!
4. Help others. Licensed clinical psychotherapist Erin Wiley says, “Giving to others is a great way to conscientiously live in a state of appreciation for the things we have in our lives.” Whether it’s donating to a charity, volunteering your time to a cause you care about, or even performing small, random acts of kindness for strangers, giving back to others can help strengthen your sense of purpose and your ties with your community. Not to mention it is a demonstration of what Christ calls us to in this life!

I invite you in the closing moments of this sermon to consider how you began this day as you awoke. What was the beginning of this morning grounded in? For whatever it is you are grounded in will shape your worldview. May God help us to see our lives each and every day, first and foremost, from a place of gratitude. Alleluia! Amen.