Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-25
GREAT NATIONAL SIN
IS |NGRAT|TUDE TO GOD
Tendency Of Today 10 to Take
Divine Gifts as Matter
Of Course.

]
The Christian Endeavor topic this
week IL discussed by Rev. 4. +. Will
hanson, ID. D., paetor OF Bethany Bap-
list Church, who takes for his sub
ject. Praise God" DIR. Williamson
says:
This Psalm is the expression OF a
heart bubbllng over with grateful
recognition OF the loving providence
OF God. The Psalmist has set an ex-
ample hat We in these days OF hurry
and rush and multiplied interests do
well 20 consider.
one OF u great national sin. r.
that OF ingratitude. Many individuals
too must plead guilty 10 the same in
dictment. The tendency Is to take
things az a matter OF course. We re-
ceive them "a II the Oliver were under
obligation TO us. and dare not fall.
But since our demerlts are 80 much
greater than QUE merits. We are
thrown upon his mercy; and 81 Ia
only by His grace hat our needs are
supplied.
But what do we mean by thanks
giving? Giving Of thanks IL the OK
preston. or outflow OF gratitude for
benefits received. II differs from
gladness. In that II seeks a method Of
expression. There were ten lepers
cleansed (Luke 17:12). but only one
Of them thought It worth while to re-
turn 10 Jesus and express. his graft
tude. The other nine. doubtless we're
very glad TO be healed Of that dread
disease: but so far as We know. only
one Of them was truly thankful.
We appreciate the value OF what we
receive. n we have this thankful
spirit. Someone has said. there arc
two ways Of becoming rich. One Is
20 increase our dollars: the other Is
TO increase the value Of the dolla,
we have" a thankful epirlt ralsee
the value Of the blessings received
from day to day. and that in turn en-
riches as.
II Is said hat in the entrance OF a
certain hospital hangs a card bearing
these words: Never utter a dis.
%couraging word while in this lnsti-
tuition, You should come only foi
the purpose Of helping Keep you
hindering. sad looks for other places
II you can't smile. don't 20 in" Tn,
ministry OF a smile Is especially valu
able among the sick and sorrowlni
and the burdened ones whom we nee
I'm lfe's daily toll. The heart OF
child IL made happy by a smile O
recognition. The lonely and deco
late. bordering on despair are givei
fresh courage by q loving word &C
companied by a kindly smile. a,
this ministry Of love enriches on
20 own life. and encourages the spirl
. OF thankfulness in us.
II we are thinkful We arc sure 10 b
] thankful. II 10 when we fail 20 thin.
$ OF the manifold blessings Of God TIA
we all also 20 be thankful. Take 70
example the commonest things o
{ life-our clothing. our food. or IN
: air that we breathe. II God shoul
cease making oxygen human III
could o endure fOr an hour. DO W
thank God az We should foe the ele
men;s in the atmosphere that ar
{ so essential 20 our very existence?
Then u gracious Father minister
20 our spiritual needs. lie has di.
i closed in His precious word how "
n ma escape the consequences OF GU
: sins. The blood OF Jesus Christ. .
~cleanseth Us from all sin. II We cor
d tess ~ sins he is faithful and jus
y to forgive US our sins and to cleans
US from all unrighteousness." q. Jon
n l; :. 81. He has provided helps in n
y development OF our Christian life. Tn
u churches with all their varied depar-
ments Of work. the preaching service
i the Bible school; the p-rayermeeting
q the young peoples society. and oths
activities are absolutely essential :
our religious life. Are We thankfr
FOR the churches? Yes. but 10 VIII.
extent Il u gratitude sufficient
strong TO pull US from our beds G
sunday morning in time 10 get
church for the sermon or Bible lessor
< Does the thankful spirit in US maks ,
n forget that tired feeling" on n
e Lords Day and that headache IN.
scarcely ever comes on any other ds
and give the house OF God a char
that thrills our hearts. and lifts
n into the very presence OF the Eterna
May we not be content 70 be simp
glad for these evidences Of OF
D. Fathers love: but may the spirit
{. genuine thankfulness pervade o.
- whole being.