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The Sin of Ingratitude
We are told in 2 Tim. 3:1-5 that. "In the last days perilous times shall come, when
people will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that
are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yah; having a form of righteousness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
That is quite a mouthful Paul was inspired to write, and we don't have to look very hard to see some or all of
these attributes in the people around us, and, if we look really close, even in ourselves. At this time of year,
especially, we are told to "examine our brother." Right? No, certainly not. We are to examine ourselves.
In 1 Cor. 11, beginning in verse 17, Paul is giving some instructions concerning the Memorial Supper. He said
that when they came together, there was division, they had heresies among themselves, and some were rude and greedy,
while some were getting drunk. In verses 23-26, he explains the purpose of the meeting. It is to "show the
Master's death till He come."
Then in verse 27, he says that whosoever eats or drinks of the emblems of Yahshua's body and blood "unworthily,"
shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Master.
Some have concluded that it is better not to partake at all, than to risk taking them "unworthily," saying
that they don't feel "worthy." But that is not what Paul meant. We are commanded to take the emblems,
by Yahshua Himself, in verses 24 and 25: "this do in remembrance of Me." So we must examine ourselves
to be sure we don't take them, as Paul meant, in an unworthy manner. We will never be "worthy," in the
sense that our own righteousness will suffice. But we must be sure that we do not partake of the Memorial of His
death in an unworthy manner.
Then in 2 Cor. 13:5, we are told to examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith. We are to prove our own selves,
whether or not we are even converted. Do you, or do I, have any of these character flaws that Paul enumerated
in 2 Tim. 3:1-5, quoted at the beginning of this article? Well, if we don't have at least some of them, we surely
did before conversion. And since the "old man" dies hard (the one we buried at baptism), some of these
flaws will re-surface if we don't remain constantly on guard.
While all these conditions are serious flaws, probably one of the worst is ingratitude, or unthankfulness. Why?
Because, in my opinion, that one underlies many if not all of the other ones. Let's examine them. "Lovers
of their own selves." Not wrong, if we love our neighbor as ourselves. But that is hard to do, isn't it?
This connotation, as used here, means they love themselves to the exclusion of, and even to the hurt of, others.
"Covetous." Desiring what others have. Paul equates covetousness with lust. Romans 7:7, "Is the
law sin? Yah forbid. I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou
shalt not covet." It is not wrong to desire certain things, but we must be willing to work for them, to acquire
them in an honorable way.
"Boasters and proud." The "I don't need Yahweh, look how great I am" syndrome. But Yahweh
resists the proud. We must become as servants, and not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3).
"Blasphemers." Blasphemy is teaching against the truth of Yahweh, denying His very existence, ridiculing
the idea of creation as myth. See 2 Peter 2:1-2, and Jude 4.
"Disobedient to parents." This has become an epidemic nationwide. And it is not necessarily the fault
of the child. Many parents (maybe most) cave in to the "demands" of their spoiled children, fail to
properly instruct them, then wonder why the children refuse to obey them. This is a direct violation of the 5th
Commandment. If you are disobeying lawful instruction from your parents, you are not honoring them, but rather
showing DIS-honor.
"Unthankful." Luke 17:11-19 tells us that as Yahshua went to Jerusalem, He passed through Samaria and
part of Galilee. As He entered a certain village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood back (because they were
lepers), and said, "Yahshua, Master, have mercy on us." He told them to go show themselves to the priests,
and as they went, they discovered that they had already been healed. And one of them, a Samaritan, came back,
glorifying Yahweh with a loud voice, and fell down on his face at Yahshua's feet, and gave Him thanks. And Yahshua
said, 'Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? None came back to give glory to Yahweh except this stranger.'
Whereupon He told him to arise and go, that his faith had made him whole.
Paul wrote, Romans 1:21, that those who had once known Yahweh , glorified Him not as their Supreme Mighty One,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. V.22, Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools. Verse 25 tells us (when properly translated) that they "exchanged
the truth of Yahweh for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed forever.
Amen."
Colossians 3:15, And let the peace of Yahweh rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful.
"Unholy." We are to be a holy people, Deut. 28:9, Yahweh shall establish you an holy people unto himself,
as he hath shown unto you, if you shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your El, and walk in his ways.
Isaiah 62:11-12, Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold,
your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The Holy
People, the Redeemed of Yahweh:...
These were Abraham's seed, and we are to become Abraham's seed, spiritually speaking: Galatians 3:29, And if ye
be Messiah's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. We can never he holy of ourselves,
but He imparts His Holiness to us, in the form of His Spirit dwelling in our minds. People in the world, following
false religious systems, do not have His Spirit, and thus are not holy.
"Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good." That time has come. Even right now, the mainline religions, the political leaders, and society in
general, call those who uphold morality "bigots," "hate-mongers," and worse. Those who speak
out against murdering our children, and against homosexual practices, and for upholding the Ten Commandments, are
demonized by society. They have it exactly backward. They call evil good, and good evil.
But Isaiah prophesied that they would be punished for their iniquity. Isaiah 5:20-21, Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!
And why? Verse 24, last part: Because they have cast away the law of Yahweh of Hosts, and despised the Word of
the Holy One of Israel.
Yahweh's Word has been removed from the classrooms of America. Even a copy of the Ten Commandments is not allowed
in schools, or in public buildings. Is it any wonder Yahweh is angry with His people (V. 25)? Is it any wonder
our children are growing up totally ignorant of the eternal truths Yahweh meant for us to have?
The sins of baby-murder (abortion) and homosexuality are called "good" by those in authority, while those
of us who dare speak out against these outrages, are labeled "evil." We are considered to be "intolerant
bigots" and "homophobes."
"Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yahweh; having a form of righteousness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Yes, those who do such things and promote them from a position of power, as the politicians do, forcing their agenda
on us, are traitors to the people they have sworn to protect. In their heady highmindedness, they think they know
better than the Supreme Being what is good for us.
"Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof." We see them on TV newscasts coming out of
a church on Sunday morning carrying a Bible, and looking righteous. But they are hypocrites. They profess to
believe the Bible, when in fact, they deny it and its power.
They say one thing and do another, just as the leaders in Yahshua's time did.
Mat. 23:1-4: Then spake Yahshua to the multitude and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit
in Moses seat (they were purveyors of Yahweh's law): All therefore they bid you observe (many think "they"
should be "he," Moses, not "they," the Pharisees*), that observe and do; but do not ye after
their works: for they say, and do not.
Let us not be like those unrighteous people in Romans 1:21, who, when they knew Yahweh, glorified Him not as Yahweh,
neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (V. 22) professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools.
But, rather, let us become like those Paul speaks of in Col. 3:15, And let the peace of Yahweh rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful! >>>
*See following article by Ross Nichols, forwarded to me off the Internet.
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