BiblicalInsights.net

The wonder of God can be defined as: “inquisitive awe in the pursuit of an understanding of all of the perfections of God that comprise His magnificence.”  Anthropological wonder is the wonder of God as seen in His creation of human beings.  In Ps. 139:14, “…I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  A human being, created in the image of God, is a cause for inquisitive awe.  What does being created in the image of God tell us about ourselves?  Human beings alone sustain a unique relationship to deity.  We are created “in His image” and “in His likeness” (Gen. 1:26,27).
The Creation of Humanity is Unique.
The divine Godhead is involved in the creation of human beings.  Humans are not the product of blind change and randomness as affirmed by biological evolutionists.  People are not an evolutionary accident.  We are created with divine intent and purpose.  God who is eternal, self-existing,  and infinite in all of His perfections brought into being a human being that is both physical and spiritual in nature and so, created and finite.  The superiority of God and sovereignty of God over His creature–man–is expressed in this relationship between the Creator and the creature.  God is a person and He has created human beings in such a way that they can have a relationship with Him.  Human beings are person too!  Human beings reflect God’s presence in the world and are evidence that God exists by virtue of the fact that they are created in His image.  No other part of God’s creation has this distinction.  This separates human beings from animals and all other forms of life.  God expressly forbids idols made of wood, stone, silver, or gold as the means of bearing His image.  All idolatry is strictly forbidden by God.  Human beings were given dominion over the earth and all other living things.  They are the crown of God’s creation.  God created them male and female.  Both male and female bear the image of God.  Sexual identity/gender identity is God-given and part of the design of God for human reproduction.  This is part of the created order and is being contradicted by those who suffer from gender dysphoria and choose to contradict God’s created design.  Human beings are dualistic in nature and consist of an “outer man” (physical in nature) and an “inner man” (spiritual in nature).  The physical body is a wonder.  The soul of man, intimately bound to the body, is given by God at conception and together, body and soul, make up a human being.  The fact that human beings possess a soul is another reason for the distinction between humans and animals.
In His Image
There are several aspects of humans that indicate that they bear God’s image.  First, humans have intellectual likeness to God.  In Ps. 139:1-6, David affirms that God is all-knowing.  Humans have intelligence (Job. 35:11), but are not infinite in knowledge.  Humans know more than the beasts of the field or the fowls of the air.  The powers of rational thought possessed by humans are part of the image of God.  Animals do not reason.  They function on the basis of instinct.  No animal has ever written a book!  Second, bearing the image of God means that there is a moral likeness to God.  God is holy (Isa. 6:1-3).  God is love (I John 4:8,16).  Humans are moral creatures.  The spirit of a human being is manifested in conscious thought, self-awareness, and self-reflection.  We have a conscience–a moral arbiter or umpire that either approves or disapproves of words and actions taken by us.  Animals are not moral creatures.  Humans are morally responsible to God because God created us.  God through various covenants has expressed His will in laws that He ordains.  This power to make laws is an expression of God’s sovereignty.  Human beings have always been accountable to God according to the covenant that they lived under at the time of their human sojourn on the earth.  God’s laws constitute objective moral laws.  These laws are recognized universally.  For instance, it is universally understood that murder and rape are wrong (sinful because they violate God’s laws).  Third, being created in the image of God means that humans have volition or the power to choose.  Responsibility to God implies the ability to respond by choice to either obey God or disobey Him.  Volitionality is essential to morality.  God possesses free-will.  God chooses and no one tells God what to do (Rom. 11:34).  “Who hath known the mind of the LORD, or who hath been his counsellor?”  Human beings have free-will.  All sin is the result of choice (James 1:14-15).  Love is a matter of choice.  If there is no free-will, there can be no love!  God desires that we obey Him because we love Him (Mt. 22:36-39; John 14:15, 23).  God is love and He has created humans with the power to love Him and others.  Love is the greatest human virtue (I Cor. 13:13).  If love were properly understood and applied, it would solve most, if not all, of the social problems facing humans today (I Cor. 13).
Truly God has created human beings with such distinction that it inspires wonder.  What is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visiteth him?  (Ps. 8:4).  We marvel at how God has created us.  He made us in His image.  We have a created order and design that reflects God’s wisdom and power.  Using our minds, hearts and wills, we can established a spiritual and covenantal relationship with God following the terms and conditions of the New Testament (the law of Christ) and enjoy fellowship with God.  We can prepare to live with God eternally which is the reason He created us (Rev. 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”).

The apostle Paul uses the word sincere four times: I Cor. 5:8; II Cor. 1:12; II Cor. 2:17 and Phil. 1:10.  The word is translated from the Greek word eilikrinia which means purity.  Paul uses it of the purity of the soul when communing with God (I Cor. 5:8); of the purity of daily life reflected in the conduct of the saint of God in the world; of the undefiled speech of the Christian teacher who imparts the truth of God’s word to others (II Cor. 2:17) and of the purity of heart which is the result of the beauty of spiritual wisdom which has been taught of love to discern the things that are of greatest importance over that which is  mundane.   Sincerity is the purity of heart that produces spiritual integrity.
The Basis of Sincerity
First, to be sincere, let a person bring his/her inner life into the illuminating rays of the Best-Jesus Christ.  The standard of the conscience is set by the perfect teacher who exhibits the perfect character and the perfect conduct–Jesus Christ.  If Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20), we will exhibit Christlikeness to the world around us.  Our words and actions will reflect His glory.
Second, to be sincere, let a man live in perfect openness to God.  Sincerity is that clearness of the soul in which nothing interferes with its penetration by the divine light of truth and righteousness.  Insincerity loves secrecy and hates publicity.  It shrinks from the light of judgment.  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).  Sincerity invites God’s scrutiny and fears nothing from God.
Third, to be sincere, let a man preserve an unbroken harmony between one’s words and deeds and one’s deepest inward convictions.  This is what we mean when we say “be true to yourself.”  Being true to yourself arises from being true to God!  Polinius said, “To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
The Bane of Hypocrisy
Jesus was stirred to indignation by those religious leaders who lacked harmony between the inner and outer life.  He condemned the Pharisees who “say but do not.”  Their own words were contradicted by their actions.  Jesus called them “whited sepulchers” which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27).  He warned his disciples not to follow after them.  Hypocrites wear a mask.  They live in pretense and deceive others thereby.  They pretend to be something that they are not.  The Christian life involves living a true life and can never be acting a part.  The hypocrite exhibits spiritual incompetence.  The double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways (James 1:8).  The person who attempts to serve two masters at the same time and in the same place attempts to do the impossible (Matthew 6:24).  Jesus emphatically states, “no man can serve two masters.”  Sincerity is the virtue of the heart that pursues divine purity and spiritual integrity.  Sincerity is the antidote to hypocrisy.
The Beauty of Sincerity
Sincerity is a Christian virtue.  Paul connects love to sincerity (Phil. 1:9-11).  Love is the basis of judgment or spiritual discernment.  Love for God and for neighbor is a guiding principle that helps us approve the things that are excellent.  This produces and preserves sincerity.  Purity of heart guards against profaning the sacred or ill-treatment of our neighbor.  Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (I Cor. 13:6).  Love preserves a right relationship with God and with others.  Jesus said that the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8).  The ultimate reward of the true follower of Jesus Christ is the blessing of being with God forever.  Sincerity is one of those excellent virtues of the Christian life that is essential to obtaining the crown of life.

In a recent debate between Michael Shermer (skeptic/atheist) and Kyle Butt (theist/Christian) held October 25, 2023 at Faulkner University, Shermer affirmed the argument from unbelief.  The proposition for the debate was, “The God of the Bible Exists.”  Shermer denied the proposition and Butt affirmed it.  During this debate, Shermer argued that since many Jews and Muslims do not believe in Jesus, there must not be sufficient evidence to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.  Therefore, the Christian God does not exist.  This is the argument from unbelief.  This argument states that the presence of sincere non-believers proves that God cannot exist.  It suggests that there are many people willing to believe in God if only enough evidence existed to prove that He is.  The argument is also called, “reasonable unbelief.”  The argument claims that if God is real, He would have revealed Himself so clearly that anyone who sincerely was willing to believe would accept that truth.  In short, those who make this argument affirm that there is inadequate evidence to support belief in God.
Two Assumptions Made by the Argument
The first assumption is that there are objective, sincere and willing unbelievers.  The true nature of unbelief reveals that it is grounded not in objective and sincere individuals, but those who have hardened their hearts against God by the deceitfulness of sin.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:12-13).  Paul referenced this very thing in Rom. 1:18-32.   “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).  To “hold the truth in unrighteousness” is a reference to the suppression of the truth by the deceitfulness of sin (unrighteousness).  The consequence of unbelief is more unbelief.  Unbelief is self-perpetuating and therefore becomes a powerful force in moving people away from God.  There is no redeeming aspect of sin.  Sin never produces righteousness, but it produces unrighteousness which suppresses the truth about God.  This is not innocent.  People who sin are deceived.  All unbelief is based upon a lie not the truth.  Unbelief therefore does not argue against the truth.  It stands as a negation of the truth which is based upon a lie.  Unbelief is inexcusable! (Rom. 1:20).  Paul declares that unbelief is the result of those who gave up their knowledge of God for vanity (idolatry) or lies (Rom. 1:21-23).  This was a willful, intentional, act of the rejection of the truth about God and the active pursuit of idolatry.  This is the true nature of unbelief. Unbelief can only be overcome with truth.  Truth changes both the mind and the heart.  This defines the pathway to transformation and redemption (John 8:32).
The second assumption is that God has not provided enough evidence for men to reason about correctly and come to the conclusion that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).  Paul states, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20).  God existed before people existed.  God was known by the first man and first woman–Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2).  There never has been a time in the history of man that God has not made Himself known to man.  Adam and Eve knew God “face to face.”  The Bible gives the historical accounts of the interactions of God with human beings.  These individuals had certain knowledge that God existed and passed down that knowledge to others.  God has revealed Himself in the creation of the universe.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Ps. 19:1-3).  The creation speaks a universal language and that message is heard by all peoples everywhere.  Also, when God made man, He made him “in His image, in His likeness” (Gen. 1:27).  Man himself bears the image of God and is proof that God exists.  God has spoken to human beings through His written word.  The Bible stands as evidence that God is.  “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the world of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:1-3).  The writing prophets (such as Moses, Samuel, David, and many others) and the apostles and New Testament prophets (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James and Jude) have given us a body of truth the substance of which comes from the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).   Jesus reveals the Father to us.  “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?  the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:8-11).  Jesus’ life, teaching, miracles, death, burial and resurrection are all evidences that God is.  Luke records that the sacred knowledge that he gave to Theophilus consisted of many infallible proofs which were “most certainly believed” among us (see Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1-4).  Jesus predicted that He would build His church (kingdom) (Matthew 16:16-19).  The Lord’s church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47).  The church is comprised of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  The existence of the church is proof that God exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  The transformation of millions of lives by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a powerful voice for faith in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  In order for unbelievers to reject the sum total of all of the evidence for God, unbelievers would have to be able to falsify every piece of evidence in a conclusive way.  This would be impossible to do.  The existence of unbelief does not destroy the many infallible proofs God has given to us of His existence and goodness.
Belief in a Lie Does Not Make It True
Our unbelief in Jesus does not disprove who He is.  “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (II Tim. 2:13).  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  Jesus is faithful to Himself. He is essentially and eternally consistent. It is His nature to be so.  Jesus authenticates Himself by His nature, power, goodness, truth and holiness.  He bears witness to Himself (John 8:18). In order to deny Jesus, one must believe a lie and one must be able to falsify who Jesus is.   The former can be done, but the latter is impossible to do.  Believing a lie does not disprove the truth.  The argument from unbelief is false and must be rejected.  We are powerless to affect the eternal consistency of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Wonder is what takes your breath away, and gives your breath back again, to breathe again–transformed!” (William Brown, bible gateway.com).
Wonder is the quality of amazed excitement (Webster).  Wonder is inquisitive awe in pursuit of an understanding of the magnificence of God!  The noblest quest of the human mind is to know God.  Please consider making this your New Year’s resolution!  The wonder of God is the antidote to boredom.  The human heart needs noble quests that ultimately satisfy and enrich the soul.  This quest is one worth pursuing, so, do it heartily!
The wonder of God begins with a pursuit of the knowledge of His Creative Acts.  In Genesis 1-2, we have an inspired, written record of those acts which we embrace by faith (Heb. 11:3).  This is none other than the pursuit of origins.  It is the pursuit of our own identity which is rooted in God’s creative acts.  It is the pursuit of God’s power, genius, and beauty.
The Power of God
“Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” (Ps. 33:8-9).  “And God said….”  Gen. 1:3.  The Word of God is powerful!  God spoke the universe into existence.  “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:3).  God spoke the universe into existence out of nothing physical that existed before.  He created by divine fiat.  That is wonder working power!  That is omnipotence!
The Genius/Design of God
Ps. 139:14-16, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”  The human body produces wonder.  Here are some facts to consider:
-The largest bone in the human body is the femur.  It can support 30 times the weight of a person’s body.  Ounce for ounce, that’s stronger than steel.
-Messages from the human brain travel along nerves at up to 200 miles an hour.
-In an adult human, 25% of their bones are in the feet.
-A human’s ears and nose never stop growing.
-There are more bacteria in a human mouth than there are people in the world.
-A human’s little finger contributes over 50% of the hand’s strength.
-If a human’s DNA were uncoiled, it would stretch 10 billion miles, from Earth to Pluto and back.
-For an adult human, taking just one step uses up to 200 muscles.
-A human skeleton renews itself completely every 10 years.
-By the time of person reaches 70 years old, he or she will have consumed over 12,000 gallons of water.
-The body can detect taste in .0015 seconds, which is faster than the blink of an eye.
-Every hour, humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin, or about 1.5 pounds every year.  By the time a person is 70 years old, they will have lost about 105 pounds of skin.
Ps. 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”  Just consider the Astronomical Calendar for 2024 as an example of the display of God’s genius.  January 3-4, we began with the Quadrantis Meteor Showers.  January 12 is the best time to see Mercury because it is at its greatest Western Elongation.  February 20 is the best time to see Venus because it will be at its greatest Eastern Elongation.  Don’t forget to take in the New Moon and the Full Moon for every month.   March 25 will be a Prenumbral Lunar Eclipse (the moon passes through the earth’s penumbral shadow).  April 8 will bring a total Solar Eclipse.  April 22-23 will bring the Lyrics Meteor Showers with meteor surges up to 100 per hour.  May 6-7 will be the Eta Aquarius Meteor showers and May 14 will bring a total Lunar Eclipse and the moon will take on a reddish appearance.  June 20 is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.  July 21 will be the Buck moon which coincides when Buck’s antlers are at full growth.  Also July 28-29 will bring the Aquaria Meteor showers with about 20 meteors per hour.  August 12-13 will bring the Perseus Meteor showers with about 60 meteors per hour.  September 18 will bring a Supermoon and on the 18th there will be a partial lunar eclipse.  September 22 will be the fall equinox and fall will begin in the Northern Hemisphere.  Oct. 17 will bring a supermoon.  Oct. 21-22 will bring the Orionids Meteor Shower which originates from Hally’s Comet (about 20 meteors per hour).  In November, you can see the Taurids meteor showers with a higher than usual percentage of fireballs and the Leonids Meteor showers which provide a glimpse of the most intense meteors in history.  December will bring the Geminid Meteor showers (13-14) with up to 120 colored meteors per hour.  The night sky is a light show beyond imagination and God’s genius and design is behind every astronomical phenomenon.
God’s design is seen in practically every aspect of the universe.  There is much to discover!  So, open your eyes, get excited about the process of discovery and enjoy God’s creation!
 The Beauty of God
In Genesis 1:31, the Bible declares that God gave His evaluation of the creation and pronounced it “very good.”  This pronouncement indicates that everything God created functioned exactly as God designed it.  All created species were actualizing the functions for which they were made, in relation to the totality of being: the consequence was, of course, harmony, order and peace.  The “heaven and the earth” were designed as a suitable habitat for man. Indeed, the world created by God was a “value of soul-making.”  In addition, to the created excellence of the design God brought into being, human beings were virtuous having been created morally perfect.  God’s initial creation was perfect.  This high excellence was part of the beauty of the created world which mirrored the beauty of God.   The Garden of Eden reflects this beauty.  The human form and design reflects this beauty.  The earth before the “curse” reflects this beauty.  Today, we still marvel at the beauty of the earth.  The Seven Natural Wonders of the World stand as a testament to his beauty.  The world atlas.com lists the following geographical areas as natural wonders:  Mount Everest (tallest peak on earth at 8,848.86 meters); Parcutin Volcano (a cinder volcano); The Grand Canyon (446 km long; 29 km wide and 1.8 km deep); Victoria Falls (the largest waterfall in the world, located in Southern Africa); The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro (the world’s largest natural harbor located in Brazil); the Great Barrier Reef (the largest coral reef located near Queensland, Australia) and the Northern Lights (a light show of dancing colors seen near the Arctic Circle).  Much more could be included.  Wonder is all around us!  God is at the center of all wonder.  When we consider His Creative Acts, we are filled with inquisitive awe in pursuit of an understanding of His magnificence!  Now, that’s the cure for boredom!!!

Gift giving is a tradition this time of the year (December).  The emphasis is on generosity.  Many charitable groups are looking for donations.  Individuals are excited about giving and receiving gifts.  Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were brought by the wise men to the young Jesus close to the time of His birth.  Gifts involve an interesting dynamic between the giver, the gift itself and the receiver.  Giving begins in the heart of the giver.  A person decides to give and what to give.  This means that giving is a free act.  The gift is a windfall.  It is not earned nor merited.  It can take many forms but whatever form it takes, it is designed to be beneficial to the receiver.  The receiver completes the circle in the dynamic if the gift is received.  Most of the time, the gift is received with warmth and appreciation.  When the gift is received, the benefit or blessing enhances the value of the receiver.  However, sometimes the gift is rejected.  Whenever this happens, the giver is often rebuffed and offended.  The rejection of goodwill and grace is never welcomed.  When the receiver rejects the gift, he/she robs himself/herself of the benefits of receiving the gift which could be detrimental to the welfare of the recipient.  Sometimes people do not act for their own good.
The Greatest Giver
The greatest giver is God!  This is the conclusion of the proper reasoning about both creation and redemption.  Consider Ps. 104:28, where God is depicted with open hands and His hands are filled with good.  Or, consider Rom. 11:29, where Paul affirms that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  In James 1:17, James affirms that every good gift and perfect gift is from the Father of lights.  God is constant in giving us the best of heaven.  The heart of God is exposed in the giving of spiritual gifts that are freely bestowed and priceless.  God is magnanimous in His giving.   He does not hold back the best of heaven from His creature–man.
God Gave His Son.  John 3:16.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9-10).  God’s gift–Jesus Christ–is the means of our redemption.  Our redemption is priceless and so is the unspeakable gift of God’s Son (II Cor. 9:15).  Human language is at a loss to describe the wonder and magnificence of this priceless gift.  This gift is the means of spiritual life and eternal life (I John 5:10-11).
God Gave Us a Savior.   Eph. 5:25
Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25).  Christ’s sacrifice was a selfless act of love to put away our sin.  “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26).  We are redeemed by His blood.  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).  Forgiveness by God is priceless and it is essential for our salvation!
God Gave His Grace.  Eph. 2:8-9.
“For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).  Grace is God’s favor freely bestowed upon those who stand in need of His saving power.  The reception of this grace is dependent upon the faith and obedience of the human heart in response to God’s love.  God’s grace is not limited.  His grace is not a one-time experience.  His grace is continually available to Christians after its initial reception providing for continual cleansing by the blood of Christ (I John 1:7-9).
God Gave His Spirit.  Acts 2:38
The gift of God’s Spirit is a promise that is received only by those who have obeyed the gospel.  Those who obey the Gospel (manifest faith in the Lord, love Him supremely, repent of their sins, confess Christ and are baptized into Christ) not only receive the remission of sins, but they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32).  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).  The Holy Spirit is a seal (denotes ownership).  The Holy Spirit is an intercessor (Rom. 8:26) aiding our prayers.  The Holy Spirit strengthens us with might in the inner man (Eph. 3:16).  The Holy Spirit is a priceless gift!
God Gives His Word.  James 1:17-18.
God begets us by His Word.  The germ of spiritual life is in the seed of the Word of God.  The seed begets us.  The Word of truth enlightens us and guides us into the pathway of righteousness.   The gospel of Christ is God’s way of making people righteous (Rom. 1:16-17).  “Buy the truth and sell it not!” (Prov. 23:23).  The truth is priceless!
God Gives Eternal Life Through His Son.  Rom. 6:23; I John 5:10-11.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Rom. 6:23).  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:10-11).  Eternal life is a quality of spiritual life and involves being in the presence of God forever.  It is free from:  tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain for the former things are passed away (Rev. 21:4).  Eternal life is priceless!
God Gives Us Richly All Things To Enjoy.  I Tim. 6:16-17
Paul charges the rich to glorify God with their riches.  God gives us richly all things to enjoy!  The blessings of God are meant to be enjoyed.  Of course, this precludes sinful pursuits.  God wants us to enjoy the good things that He provides for us.  The true disciple of Jesus who puts the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in life, has the promise that all “these things” will be added unto him (Mt. 6:33).  “These things” refers to food, clothing and shelter.  God will provide through His grace.  God sustains us.  These blessings are not meant to ruin and rule us.  They are to be received with thanksgiving and used to God’s glory (I Cor. 10:31).  God’s blessings are priceless!
God’s gifts:  His Son, Our salvation through His Son, His grace, His Spirit, His Word, eternal life and every good and perfect gift are priceless!  They are freely given.  They are the means of our spiritual wealth through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3; II Cor. 8:9).  They must be received through love, faith and obedience to God’s Holy Word.  God has opened His hands to bless us with His goodness.  We must open our hearts to receive with meekness and humility the wonderful blessings God bestows.  When we do so, we enrich our souls for eternity.

In art, sometimes the beauty of an object is highlighted by contrasting through color, light, or some other medium.  In language, the same is true.  The beauty of a concept can be seen more brightly through its contrast or its opposite. The beauty of thanksgiving can be seen by observing its contrast: ingratitude.
Where Are The Nine?  Luke 17:11-19.
Jesus heals ten lepers, one of whom is a Samaritan, and he is the only one who returns to thank the Lord for the physical healing.  Lepresy was a dreaded disease in Jesus’ day.  There was no cure for it.  It produced misery physically and socially.  A leper became a social outcast and was separated from the life of the community and religious activities.  Lepers had no hope.  The compassion of Jesus for these individuals led Him to heal them.  The healing was dramatic and it was discovered as they followed Jesus’ command to go and show themselves to the priest to confirm their physical well-being.  As they went, they were healed.  Only one returned to thank Jesus for the. miracle that would have radically changed each of their lives.  This prompted Jesus ask, “Where are the nine?”  The one who returned to Jesus was a Samaritan.  Jesus showed compassion to him without any prejudice.  Whenever the Samaritan returned to Jesus in gratitude, he received an even greater blessing.  Gratitude completed the circle of fellowship with the Lord.  The Lord said to him, “Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.”  This statement meant more than the physical healing.  All ten had received the miracle of healing.  Only the Samaritan received spiritual healing and was made completely whole.  Ingratitude robs of fellowship with God and all the spiritual blessings that God has to offer.  The beauty of gratitude is that it brings us back to God who blessed us in the first place.  This completes the circle of fellowship with God whereby we can obtain even greater blessings.  Physical healing is a wonderful blessing, but, spiritual healing (forgiveness) is even more precious.
The Danger of Riches in Producing Ingratitude.  Mark 10:17-22.  
The rich man Jesus encountered in this narrative wanted to know what he had to do to obtain eternal life.  He desires to know how to pursue the ultimate quest of the human heart–everlasting life.  At first, Jesus directs him to the Law of Moses (the law he lived under at the time) and to keep covenant with God (obey the commandments in the law).  The man replied that he had done so from his youth up.  Jesus perceived the he lacked one thing.  He told him to, “go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mk. 10:21).  The man went away sorrowful, because he had great riches.  Jesus loved this man (Mk. 10:21), but, this man did not love the Lord back.  He failed to see that his riches were a blessing from God.  His ingratitude due to covetousness led him to reject the love of Jesus and the gift of everlasting life.  Covetousness is linked to lovelessness.  Lack of love for the Lord fails to complete the circle of fellowship with the Lord that leads to everlasting life.  The beauty of gratitude is that it is an act of love that binds us to the Lord so that we can have everlasting life with the Lord.
Ugly Bed-Fellows.  II Tim. 3:2.
The word “unthankful” is found twice in the KJV:  Luke 6:35 and II Tim. 3:2.  In II Tim. 3:2, the word “unthankful” is associated with eighteen other sins.  These sins would characterize the “last days” or the Christian Age.  Ingratitude is a sin that keeps company with many other ugly traits: lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Ingratitude corrupts the heart and turns it against God.  The beauty of gratitude is that it comes from a pure heart out of which God is praised.  “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17).  God blesses us and, then, we bless God.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).  God blesses us, and, then, we bless God.  The cycle is repeated over and over again.  Gratitude is a key aspect of faithfulness to God!
Despising The Goodness of God.  Luke 6:35 and Rom. 2:4.
In Luke 6:35, ingratitude is associated with evil. God is good.  He does good even to the unthankful and evil person.  They are the recipients of temporal blessings (rain and sunshine–Mt. 5:45).  In Rom. 2:4, Paul exposes the link between ingratitude and impenitence.  “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing the the goodness of God leadest thee to repentance?”  Those who despise the riches of God’s goodness will not repent.  “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5).  Despising the goodness of God reveals an even bigger heart problem–rebellion against God.  Gratitude brings us closer to God where we are drawn by the goodness of God to change our lives to live in conformity with God’s will.  The beauty of gratitude is that it is the pathway to oneness with God!
The Dark Path.  Rom. 1:21.
The dark path is marked by ingratitude.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things” (Rom. 1:21-23).  Ingratitude led to idolatry and the dark path that is associated with it.  Idolatry involves both moral and religious corruption.  The beauty of gratitude is that it marks the path of righteousness that both pursues and preserves relationship with God.
The Beauty of Thanksgiving.
The beauty of thanksgiving is seen in that it: completes the circle of fellowship with God which ushers in even greater blessings from God; it is an act of love that binds us to the Lord and makes everlasting life possible; it is associated with worship of God and keeps us faithful to God; it recognizes God’s goodness which compels us to change our lives and live in oneness with God, and it marks the pathway of righteousness that both pursues and preserves relationship with God.

The decision to indulge fleshly appetites for pleasure leads to sin against God and destroys and damns the soul.  This is every person’s battle.  It is the inward war!  The lusts of the flesh war against the soul (I Peter 2:11).  This battle is acute at this time in our culture.
Self-Indulgence Defined
Self-indulgence is the unrestrained gratification of one’s own fleshly appetites including desires, passions, and whims.  Whenever these fleshly appetites violate God’s law, they are sinful and put the human soul in peril.  These appetites can become chords which bind us to satan especially when habitually practiced.  They can corrupt the mind, heart, and will.  They put the will of man in direct conflict with the will of God.  They exhaust the energy needed to serve God and others.  We are so preoccupied with our own lusts that there is no time or energy or money left to serve God and others.  We are spent.  We are spent on self-indulgence and self-gratification.
Synonyms of Self-Indulgence
In order to further define the concept of self-indulgence, an examination of synonyms will aid us.  One synonym is hedonism.  Hedonism is succinctly summarized by Paul in II Tim. 3:4 by the phrase, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”  God should be and must be our “first love” (Matthew 22:36-39).  Whenever we supplant God with sinful pleasure, we have made a god out of sinful pleasure.  This is one of the false philosophies that Paul warns us about in Col. 2:8.  Paul writes, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  A second synonym is covetousness.  Covetousness is the insatiable appetite for more and more.  Covetousness is a lust of the flesh that focuses on material things and so defines materialism which is another false philosophy that can take us captive.  A third synonym is egotism.  Egotism is living life in a self-centered way.  It feeds on selfishness and violates the law to “love our neighbor as ourselves” and “love one another.”  Yet, another synonym is indolence.  Indolence is stubbornness.  Stubbornness manifests itself in the pursuit of wrong even if it is detrimental to our own good.  Another synonym is frivolity.  Frivolity is a lack of sober-mindedness.  Everything becomes of joke to those who do not take life seriously.  This produces an appetite for risky behaviors that puts our soul in harms way.  Still another synonym is entitlement.  Entitlement is the attitude that the world owes me everything and at the same time I owe others nothing. The last synonym is childishness.  Childishness is self-centered immaturity.  It is the inability to handle the challenges of this world with good emotion.
Antonyms of Self-Indulgence
Sometimes when we are defining a term, it is helpful to consider what the opposite of what term is.  An antonym of self-indulgence is self-restraint.  Self-restraint is the ability to control one’s self.  It is self-mastery.  Paul writes, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:27).  There were times whenever Paul had to say “no” to himself for his own spiritual benefit.  Another synonym is discipline.  Discipline is training in righteousness that is both positive through truth and negative through reproof, rebuke, and correction.  Both of these previous words relate to another antonym of self-indulgence which is self-control.  Temperance is self-control and it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  The contrast between the flesh and the Spirit is easily seen in the difference between self-indulgence and self-control.  A lack of self-control will lead to overspending, drug abuse, risky behaviors involving sexual sin, and even procrastination.  This virtue identifies with Christianity and is needed for a well-ordered society.  Often we want the benefits of Christianity without the responsibility of Christian living.
The Remedy for Self-Indulgence. 
True religion eliminates self-indulgence. Jesus came to save sinners from themselves (the lusts of the flesh).  True religion is a hard sell in today’s American culture.  People want cheap grace, ease and convenience, and the promises of God without obedience to the precepts of God.  The first step in solving the problem of self-indulgence is self-denial.  Jesus said, “…if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).  Self-denial is an essential step in preserving the value of the human soul in relationship with God (Matthew 16:25-27).  Jesus is the hope of the world because He is the savior of the world (John 4:42; I John 4:14).