How thanklessness destroys you

Fundraiser beware: thanklessness will destroy you.

Do you think about thanklessness as being that dangerous? Paul thinks it is:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools... (Romans 1:18-22)

That passage precedes a long, scary list of ways in which men become increasingly wicked and concludes with the terrible judgment that "those who practice such things deserve to die." Yikes! How did things get that bad?

It all began because God made Himself plainly known and clearly perceivable but we (mankind) chose to overlook those evidences. In other words, man did not come to wrong conclusions about God because of insufficient evidence; rather, we saw the evidence and purposefully threw it out. A wise individual would have observed the evidence, declared it good (as God had), and further declared that the Maker of All Things was worthy of both honor and thanks. Tragically, neither were offered. Though we claimed to be wise, we were rather shown to be fools! God, in His just and fitting judgment, gave us over to our foolishness. The downward spiral had begun and its end is our destruction.

Those who are in Christ have been rescued from that end (hallelujah!), but our temptation will be to start down that same path time and time again. With that in mind, humbly consider the following questions:

• Are you thankful for the state of your fundraising or do you complain about what you lack?
• Do you praise God for what He has provided, whether you're fully-funded, somewhat-funded or barely-funded?
• Do you thank God for your donors who give little as well as those who give much?
• Do you thank God for people who decline to give?

If the answers to these questions reveal a heart struggling to be thankful, consider spending some time in Romans to remind yourself of who you are, of who your Savior is, and of the wonderful mercies He's shown you. Let thankfulness for these things wash over you. Then, with this correct perspective toward the Lord, be both a spectator and participant in His grace as you continue with your fundraising.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (Phil 3:1)