Kristin Saatzer

Purposeful Encouragement

  • Home
  • About
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Books I Love
  • Savor the Savior Book
  • Hear The Savior Book
You are here: Home / Blog Series / Is Ungratefulness A Sin?

Is Ungratefulness A Sin?

March 1, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

  The Practice of Gratitude Part 2

photo-nic-co-uk-nic-189222 (1)

A society dwells in a dump, a cavity of stink where the city throws its trash in Tijuana, Mexico.

As a college student, I spent a day volunteering there. We administered showers to the kids. We checked for lice one family at a time and passed out toiletries to the masses.  They received two meals and clean clothes. These precious ones called this horrible pit their home. The lucky ones used cardboard boxes as shelter from the rain.

Never in my young life had I seen such gratefulness, such unabashed appreciation. It was as if we had rescued them and delivered them to a mansion. Strong  images, forever ingrained in my mind.

Repeated guilt ensued after my time at the dump, including an ongoing confession to God. I kept saying, “God, forgive me for my ungratefulness! Forgive me for all my stuff, forgive me, forgive me…”  It felt wrong that I had so much. Wrong that I was living in a large condo, driving a great car and getting a college degree. I had fabulous clothes and a warm shower every day. No one administered humiliating lice checks and I didn’t worry when the  rain came.

Was it a sin that I was born to my parents? That my folks could afford material possessions for me? A college education and housing to boot? Such extravagance compared to the mammas and daddies  I’d met, wanting only to feed, clothe, and protect their children. My college-girl self lived sheltered and cared for. A gift.

In time, my grown-up self learned this truth:

Being raised with material abundance is not a sin.

My dump encounter was priceless. My experience that day eclipsed the small bit  of what I did for the people I met.  In the years following, I’ve had many opportunities to look at my plenty, in contrast to the lives of people living in poverty: I’ve worked in prisons, orphanages, street outreach, homeless shelters, among many.  What strikes me each time I “serve” is the gratitude given. Beautiful gratitude, this is what I aspire to take from these experiences into my living. Not guilt or a feeling that my privileges are a sin.

Valuable examples for me. I’ve seem that no matter what the condition or situation, there is always something to be grateful for.  If the citizens of the dump can do it, so can I.

Also valuable was coming to terms with sin and abundance. But what about sin and ungratefulness?

Is my ungratefulness a sin?

 

What do you think?

I believe it is. And let me tell you, I have been the Queen of Ungratefulness. So, no casting-stones- queen here, just a convicting idea to unpack.

The bible is full of illustrations of ingratitude. The Israelites  whined their way through 40 years in the desert. And in the start of God’s word, we find Eve, beguiled by the serpent. He convinced Eve of her “lack”.   So it began: the sin of mankind. See Genesis 3.

The faulty lens of discontent  causes me to focus on my perceived  lack instead of my bounty. Eve allowed the snake to change her focus, and sin ensued. How may times have I sinned due to my assumption of  lack? My faulty lens? Too many.

For me, it sometimes shows up in the area of overspending. Or comparing my lot (my house, my kids, my body shape) to another’s. Or complaining. For some, it shows up as entitlement. For others, stealing. Perhaps it leads to engaging in some  harmful activity. Sexual transgression is often rooted here.  Romans 1:21 tells us our  hearts are darkened by unthankfulness. By ingratitude. By sin.

Consequently, when I am ungrateful, I sin. The state of ingratitude is itself a sin. As are the actions to which it may lead.

However!  There is grace. In turn, grace leads my heart away from the focus  of lack, to the bounty of the cross. Because of the cross, I am, you are, a chosen child whose darkened heart can turn yet again to  gratitude. A grace-filled practice. Progress.

We, God’s beloved,  salvaged from a garbage pit and delivered to a mansion.

This is Grace.

 

~Is the sin of ungratefulness a struggle for you?  How does it manifest itself? 

Tijuana Dump

~FurtherReading:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17:15-18

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32:6

 

PC: Pinterest, Unsplash, Google Images

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Blog Series, Devotionals, The Practice of Gratitiude Tagged With: Eve, Grace, grateful, gratitude, ingratitude, Sin, thankful, The Cross, The Practice of Gratitude, ungrateful

Comments

  1. Donald says

    July 19, 2017 at 10:20 pm

    Great post. I am confronting a couple of these difficulties.

    Reply
  2. Kristin Saatzer says

    July 20, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Jefferson says

    July 21, 2017 at 10:19 pm

    Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this
    post reminds me of my previous room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this
    article to him. Quite sure he’ll have a great read.
    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Kristin Saatzer says

      August 2, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      Tough issue to tackle. Thanks for your encouraging words, Jefferson.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

My prayer is that this place and the words written here will bring you a measure of encouragement, friendship and desire to live out your life with PURPOSE. more about me

Subscribe to Blog and Updates

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Instagram

A beautiful Tuesday with my Ethel. 🌼
A beautiful Tuesday with my Ethel. 🌼
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
A beautiful Tuesday with my Ethel. 🌼
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/16
Baseball team dinner with the BEST boys. 🤎💛
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Baseball team dinner with the BEST boys. 🤎💛
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/16
🙌🏼
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
🙌🏼
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
3/16
A lovely morning with the loveliest ladies! Thanks for having me THCF.
A lovely morning with the loveliest ladies! Thanks for having me THCF.
A lovely morning with the loveliest ladies! Thanks for having me THCF.
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
A lovely morning with the loveliest ladies! Thanks for having me THCF.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
4/16
Saatzfam7 celebrating the launch of #hearthesavior!
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Saatzfam7 celebrating the launch of #hearthesavior!
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/16
What do you want for your birthday? This. This is what I want. 💚
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
What do you want for your birthday? This. This is what I want. 💚
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/16
This morning in Temec. Shot taken by Scott Padget. #timestoodstillphotography No filter!
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
This morning in Temec. Shot taken by Scott Padget. #timestoodstillphotography No filter!
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/16
A sweet reunion after far too long! We never dreamed we’d both be authors some day. #hearthesavior #ALTAR’d
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
A sweet reunion after far too long! We never dreamed we’d both be authors some day. #hearthesavior #ALTAR’d
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
8/16
No C&K visit is complete without #grease.
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
No C&K visit is complete without #grease.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/16
Lovely day in a darling town with the bestest friend.
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Lovely day in a darling town with the bestest friend.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
10/16
SAY WHAT???
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
SAY WHAT???
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
11/16
Happy February! 💜
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Happy February! 💜
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
12/16
“A sister is worth a thousand friends.”
~Unknown
Happiest birthday to a sister worth TEN thousand friends. I love you. 💚
“A sister is worth a thousand friends.”
~Unknown
Happiest birthday to a sister worth TEN thousand friends. I love you. 💚
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
“A sister is worth a thousand friends.” ~Unknown Happiest birthday to a sister worth TEN thousand friends. I love you. 💚
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
13/16
Spectacular Sunday in SoCal.
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Spectacular Sunday in SoCal.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
14/16
SD has my 💙#americasfinestcity
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
SD has my 💙#americasfinestcity
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
15/16
Happy 2023! May the Lord bless and keep you this year. 💙
kmysaatzer
kmysaatzer
•
Follow
Happy 2023! May the Lord bless and keep you this year. 💙
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
16/16
View on Instagram

Categories

  • 4 For You
  • Advent
  • Blog Series
  • Books
  • Can We Talk About?
  • Christmas
  • Devotionals
  • Easter
  • FIGHT!
  • Friendship
  • Goals
  • Health
  • Lent
  • Light
  • More of God
  • Mother's Day
  • New Year
  • Parenting
  • Planning
  • Prayer
  • Repost
  • Scripture
  • Seasons
  • Summer
  • Surrender
  • Thanksgiving
  • The Practice of Gratitiude
  • Uncategorized
  • Wisdom

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014

From the Blog

  • A Time to Rest and Refuel
  • A Time to Reset and Refocus
  • Four for March!
  • The Gift of Lent
  • Hear the Savior!

Popular Tags

#annualbooksblog Advent Books Christmas Christmas Season Comfort Courage Darkness discouragement Easter Faith FIGHT Four for You Friendship Giving Grace grateful Gratefulness gratitude Headlines Holy Spirit Hope Hope series Intentionality Jesus Journaling Lent Light Lingering New Year Parenting Praise Prayer Pslamist Pslams Purpose Reading Surrender thankful Thanksgiving The Cross The Practice of Gratitude to-do's trials wisdom

Find it Here

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Saatzer