Why do we love to complain? It’s as though complaining is the only way we carry on conversations. The government is bad. Gas prices are too high. It’s too cold. It’s too hot. If only churches did this, or that.

This is the default attitude that Satan is selling us. Everything would be better if I bought this and had that. We clime higher in credit card debt believing that this item would make me feel better. What we never seem to learn is that our unthankfulness and our noncontempt is driving us into a slow depression.

Jesus breaks this mold. He becomes a rebel in the world we live. He teaches us to be thankful and contempt for what He has given us.

After watching shows about people who one the lotto, they all have one thing in common. The money never makes the people happy. Most lotto winners divorse within the year. Others find out that they blew it too fast and only have larger bills.

But Jesus breaks our way of thinking. Be thankful for all things. Paul writes, “For I have learned that in all situations to be contempt.” Where is this verse found? No one remembers this verse. But actually it is found right before the one where he states “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Happy Thanksgiving.