Guilt and Gratitude Are Poor Companions

“I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” (Ps 26:6-7 AV)

 

Purity of heart and preponderance of praise are inseparably linked.  The more right with God we are, the more grateful we are.  The more grateful we are, the more we will let others know just how good God is.  This cannot be helped.  The voice of thanksgiving cannot be silenced if the heart walks completely and wholly with God in faith and obedience.  The heart that is washed is a heart that sees the blessings of God above all other influences of life.  The heart that is washed sees the upside.  The heart that is washed understands all things come by God’s grace and all benefits of life are because God loves him or her with an everlasting life.  There is no impurity to block the gratitude that swells within the heart.  There is no other competing interest.  There is no sin harboring in a dark space of the corners of the heart that only wants more of what it should not have.  The heart that is cleansed is a free heart.  It is liberated from all self-interest and is solely focused on the God who gave that liberty.  If we are unthankful or complain much, it is probably because there are things in the heart that should not be there.  Ingratitude is not a matter of perspective.  It is a matter of the heart.

Several years back, I received correspondence from someone I knew who was sent to prison.  The first time he was incarcerated, it appeared he came to Christ.  He outlined how, through a prison ministry, he had realized his need for Christ and accepted the free gift of salvation.  It was such a great letter.  In it, he outlined some of what had gotten him jailed.  He sought forgiveness from those whom he offended or even victimized.  His letter was full of statements of gratitude towards all those who showed love towards him and interest in him.  In particular, he thanked us for praying for him.  Then he was released.  The LORD really blessed him.  God opened so many doors for him to get his life on the right track.  It was amazing what God did for this fella.  However, the monsters in his soul were never completely destroyed and it didn’t take long before he was right back in jail.  A few months passed by and another letter came.  This time, the letter was full of blame.  Nothing was his fault.  Everything was someone else’s fault including his current incarceration.  What happened?  Why such a drastic change?  The first time, he had washed his soul in the blood of Christ.  Jesus gave him a heart of innocence.  The second time around, he refused to do the same.  Now he sits with an ungrateful heart.  The circumstances were the same.  The difference was his heart.

If we are ungrateful and complaining all the time, more than likely, there is unconfessed sin at the heart of it.  This sin may not be directly tied to that for which we should be grateful.  It may be something completely different.  It could be we should be grateful for a financial windfall, yet the sin in our hearts is one of the flesh.  Perhaps we can be grateful for family, but our sin is one of pride.  The two do not need to be directly linked.  What matters is the hands, or heart of innocency.  What matters is confessing and forsaking sin.  What matters is being right with God.  If we are, being grateful is the natural outpouring of our hearts.  When we have short accounts with God, we will naturally publish how good He has been.  When we live in unconfessed sin, then our hearts are filled with guilt and shame.  Where there should be gratitude, there is guilt.  Where there should be thankfulness, there is thoughtlessness.  Where there should be appreciation, there is agitation.