Fostering Gratitude

First World Problem: Is the Turkey Overcooked?

In this message, we look at what we have from a first world perspective, and how we can develop more gratitude. Click here for the recording of this 11/23 Service, and you can fast-forward to 27:28 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our text comes from Psalms 103:1-5

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Introduction…

• Many if not most of the problems of the US middle class, are what I would call “first world”

• Wikipedia’s examples of first world problems

1. Slow Internet access

2. Poor mobile-phone coverage

3. Phone battery dying (low battery anxiety)

4. Television remote not working

5. Misplacing AirPods (the most frequent complaint about AirPods). Apple Inc. attempted to alleviate this problem by introducing a "Find My AirPods" application in 2017.

6. Not being able to find items in a shop

7. Getting a bad haircut

8. Bad-tasting fruit

9. Self-checkout in stores

10. Forgetting headphones

11. Feeling like there's nothing to eat even though there is plenty of food available.

Some Perspective

• ¼ (2 billion) of the world does not have access to safe drinking water

• 1.18 billion are without electricity

• 2.3 billion lack basic sanitation

• 1 in 11 people face chronic hunger

• 30-40% of food is wasted every year in the US- 60 million tons, every year

So, should we feel guilty for living in America, working hard, and prospering?

• Don’t feel guilty

• Foster gratitude in your life

We bless the Lord for what He has done

• We have the ability to bless (barakh- kneel, praise, salute) God, who has everything- omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, eternality

• How do we do that?

We recognize the following, on a daily basis

1. His forgiveness- he pardons our willful sin and resultant guilt

2. His healing- the restoration of physical and mental function

3. His redemption- in the OT this involved property, freedom, the family line, the protector of the vulnerable

4. His crowning of us- to surround our head with a recognition of position, covenant love and mercy

5. His satisfaction- to be sated, pleased or contented with what one has

Developing gratitude…

• Get out of your own head

• Look around at the good that you have- shelter, food, clothing

• Appreciate the people in your life, and reflect on what life would be like without them

• Lower your first world complaints by gaining perspective