Gratitude Must Be Taught

Call it providence.  When Pastor Jeff sent out an email asking for someone to lead our EM in prayer tonight, there it was: prayer of thankfulness.  This is exactly what’s been on my mind for the last couple of months as I went through the Lord’s Prayer in the gratitude section of the HC.  When I started reading Ursinus’ HC commentary this week, I was struck by his concluding paragraph on Lord’s Day 1.  He writes this:

Objection.  It is not necessary to teach that which follows of its own accord.  Gratitude naturally follows a knowledge of our misery and deliverance.  Therefore there is no necessity that it should be taught.

Answer.  There is here an incorrect course of reasoning, in supposing that to be true generally, which is so only in part; for it is not a just inference that because gratitude follows a knowledge of our deliverance from misery, that the manner of it must necessarily follow.  We are, therefore, to learn from the Holy Scriptures, the nature of true gratitude, and the manner in which it should be expressed, so as to be pleasing and acceptable to God.  Again; the major proposition is not universally true; for that also which follows of its own accord, may be taught for the purpose of increasing our knowledge and confirming us therein.  And it is in this way, that is, through the revelation and knowledge of his Word, that God awakens, increases, and confirms in us, true gratitude. (p. 22)

When you think about this, it shouldn’t be striking, but it was to me.  I always tell Jacob to say, “Thank you,” when it’s appropriate.  I think nothing of teaching him to do so; it’s just something I need to do as his dad.  Then why does it shock me that gratitude needs to be taught (to me)?  Yes, a huge part of me thinks it should come from the Spirit’s work in the overflow of your heart.  But, Ursinus is right.  It needs to be taught explicitly and directly, because fools like me don’t think they need instruction on gratitude.  Naturally, then, I cease to be thankful if I abandon its instruction.  Ursinus is right: my thinking and reasoning are way off.

So yes, thankfulness must be taught from the Word, because our sinfulness blinds us to God and His goodness.  Gratitude will only overflow where the Word of God is the authority.  There is no growth apart from the Spirit’s use of the Word and the Word of God is saturated with our gratitude towards God.  This we must be taught.