Barrier #2: Doubts. When I say doubts, I mean doubts about God’s sovereignty, the fact that God controls all things. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.”
Notice today’s verse in Acts 15:18, we are thankful because we know that even when bad things happen, they are within the permissive will of God and that He can use evil to bring about good.
Barrier #3: Ignorance. Some people are not thankful to God simply because they are ignorant of His blessings. They have not spent enough time studying Scripture. They do not understand what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do.
Barrier #4: Pride. Have you ever heard the term “self-made man?” It refers to someone who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps. Some are not thankful because they mistakenly believe that they have accomplished something on their own, apart from God. Sure, you’ve worked hard. Sure, you’ve given maximum effort and made good decisions. However, who gave you the intelligence to learn, grow and make those decisions? Who gave you the health to do that work? God did!
Jesus told the parable of The Rich Fool in Luke 12. He described a smug, proud farmer with bumper crops and big barns. His stupidity was forgetting God. In the book of Daniel, proud King Nebuchadnezzar became like a beast in order to recognize God’s authority. Acts 12:23 says of King Herod that “the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost.” May we never neglect to give thanks unto whom it is due?