This is the week of Thanksgiving where people across our country stop for a moment to acknowledge the things in their lives for which they are thankful. Here is an excerpt from my new book that will be released in January 2018 and deals with one of the seven attributes of The Humility Factor, gratitude. Note that wherever you see the word “pastor” you may insert “leader.” Enjoy.
According to the dictionary, grateful and thankful are synonyms, each meaning the other when defined, so, as we introduce the last of the seven signs of the humility factor, note that the Bible has well over 1000 references to gratitude, thanksgiving, and all forms of each word within the scriptures, including multiple accounts of Jesus giving thanks to His Heavenly Father in a variety of setting and circumstances, most notably prior to breaking the bread that symbolically represented His own broken body at the last supper on the night before He was crucified. Even when pointing directly to the horror of the cross, Jesus remained thankful for what He had been given.
According to Ron Edmondson, “Humble leaders recognize that all good gifts come from above,” for which they must remain thankful. Scripture simply states, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,” pointing directly to the fact that God Himself isn’t only the source of good things, but “good” itself. When writing about servant leaders, Dirk van Dierendonek and Kathleen Patterson state,
Gratitude can be defined as a feeling of thankful appreciation for the good things received in life. We assume that grateful leaders have a sense of abundance, will appreciate the simple pleasures in life, are appreciative of the contribution of others, and will acknowledge the importance of expressing gratitude toward those in their environment.
Pastors who possess humble intelligence are grateful people. They recognize the good things which God has put in their lives, which translates into an appreciation for the others around them with whom they work and serve. When something good happens, they give the credit to God and they outwardly model thankfulness to the people they lead. When circumstances aren’t ideal, or in times when the challenges of life are mounting, a grateful pastor will remain optimistic and trust in God’s provision as is written, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” At no point will a pastor who has the humility factor’s attribute of gratitude feel or act entitled to special treatment or bitter when they don’t get the things they may want. They don’t see their position as deserving of special treatment or “places of honor.” Instead, they follow scripture’s command, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” For whatever the circumstances, the reward, or the compensation, a pastor with humble intelligence is grateful.
Go be a grateful leader. Happy Thanksgiving.
Lead well.