Gratitude That Transforms
As I reflect on Sr. Pastor Drew Shofner’s recent sermon and the season of fall, I’m reminded of the beauty of the harvest and the importance of gratitude in our lives. In this season of changing colors, cooler days, and shorter evenings, it’s easy to see how the earth shifts from the vibrant energy of summer to the quiet stillness of winter. Fall brings with it an opportunity to pause and examine our own hearts—just as the earth takes its time to rest before the next season.
This is why the story of the three servants in Matthew 25:14-30 speaks so clearly to me. Jesus tells a story of a master who entrusts three servants with different amounts of wealth. The master doesn’t give them the same thing; each servant receives according to their abilities and God’s design. In 1 Corinthians 12:18, we are reminded that God has arranged the parts of the body just as He wanted them to be. Just like the varied colors of autumn leaves, God has arranged our lives with unique purposes. And that arrangement, that design, is good.
The first two servants, each entrusted with different amounts, used what they were given wisely. They multiplied it, increasing their master’s wealth. When they returned to report, their master commended them, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21, 23). To me, this speaks to the fact that it’s not the size of the gift we’re given, but how we use it that matters. Whether we’ve been given much or little, we all have the opportunity to be faithful with what God has entrusted to us. It’s not about comparing what we have with others, but about using what we’ve been given for His glory.
On the other hand, the third servant, who received just one bag of gold, buried it in the ground out of fear and resentment. When the master returned, he accused his servant of being lazy and wicked, saying, “You knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” (Matthew 25:26-27). This servant had a hard heart toward his master, believing he was unfair. And this lack of gratitude caused him to bury his talent in the ground.
This is where I see the warning in this parable. It’s not just about what we have or don’t have—it’s about our hearts. The third servant’s failure to appreciate what was given to him, and his comparison to the other servants, exposed a deeper issue. Ingratitude, as we read in Romans 1:21, can lead us to a place where we fail to see the goodness of God’s gifts. We begin to look at what others have, wishing it were ours, and we forget that everything we have is a gift from God. When we’re consumed by comparison, we fail to see the beauty of what God has placed in our own hands.
It’s easy for me to slip into this mindset. I can look at the lives of others and think, “Why don’t I have what they have?” or “Why didn’t God give me that?” But in these moments, God gently reminds me that He made me just as I am, with everything I need to live out the purpose He has for me. He has arranged my life, as He has arranged the lives of those around me, with great care and intention. And when I begin to compare myself to others, I am essentially questioning God’s goodness and His design. I need to trust in His love and believe that what He has given me is enough.
This fall season, when the trees lose their leaves and the days grow shorter, I want to remember the beauty of God’s design. I want to focus on being faithful with what He has entrusted to me, whether that’s my time, my gifts, or my resources. I want to celebrate what God is doing in my life, instead of resenting what He is doing in others’ lives. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” When I give thanks, my heart is transformed. Gratitude has a way of shifting my perspective, and it fills me with joy. It reminds me that God is good, and that He has given me everything I need.
As I think about the fall harvest, I am reminded that God has entrusted me with His love, and He is calling me to multiply that love. He is calling me to be faithful with what He has given me, not to bury it in resentment or comparison. I know there will be challenges along the way—circumstances that might tempt me to question God’s goodness. But I want to embrace His love, trust His design for my life, and be faithful with what I’ve been given. And as I do, I will experience the joy that comes from being a good and faithful servant.
This brings to mind a line of poetry from Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” where he writes, “I am large, I contain multitudes.”
This reminds me that, in God’s kingdom, no gift is too small, no servant too insignificant. He sees the whole picture, and He is working through each of us in our unique ways. We are all a part of His great design, and our faithfulness, no matter how humble it may seem, matters deeply.
As the leaves change and the season of fall settles in, I challenge myself—and you—to reflect on what we are grateful for. Even in difficult seasons, we can give thanks. We can celebrate the harvest of God’s goodness in our lives, knowing that He has given us everything we need. Gratitude has the power to transform our hearts, and when we choose to live with gratitude, we can rest in the assurance that God’s design is perfect.
Let love win in our lives this fall. Let gratitude rule our hearts. And let us give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that God is good and that He is always with us, guiding us toward the abundance of His love. Amen.
JG