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By Van Sprague

You have probably heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” However, you can’t find that proverb in the Bible, nor can you find “Thankfulness is next to godliness,” but the idea is close.

In the first chapter of Romans, there is a laundry list of debauchery detailing where the gentile people went wrong. It includes things like sexual immorality and murder. Look at what happened near the beginning and how it led to their moral decline.

“… although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21-23, Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved).

When the people didn’t turn their thoughts toward the Creator in gratitude, who else could they thank? Themselves. When we refuse to recognize God for the good He has done, which is all good (James 1:17), our perspective will shift from heaven to earth. Looking at ourselves as the origin of good will corrupt our view of life and darken our hearts.

If we understand creation as the source of all good, we elevate ourselves to the position of God, making God out to be like us. If God is like us, anything goes. We cannot imagine a holy God. Even worse, we make holiness out to be whatever we want, and there is no depth of degradation human beings won’t try to justify if we are left to our own devices.

How do we turn this around? We recognize God for who He is. Give Him thanks. Trusting in Him, we will have peace. Look at how Paul explained these things were interconnected:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Would you like to have relief from anxiety and the crushing weight of uncertainty? Would you like to have true happiness, even when things are hard? Ensure you are living, trusting, and rejoicing in the Lord. Then, you can approach Him in confident gratitude, knowing that you are benefiting from the good He has done for you. In this way, thankfulness is next to godliness.

Van Sprague is an evangelist at the Church of Christ at Houston Park. He has a wife and three children. Come Visit! Sunday morning Bible class is at 9, with worship at 10 am and 5 pm. Wednesday night Bible class is at 6.