EVERYTHING in our lives is a gift, including what we have worked for. Thankfulness, therefore, should be our primary response. As we embrace this truth, the result is humility. The most important gift anyone can receive is Salvation.

When we understand that there is NOTHING in our lives, including our Salvation, that we can take credit for, we are humbled before God and do not view ourselves as better than others. Since our physical and intellectual attributes, where and when we were born, and all of our abilities and opportunities are a gift, where is the boasting? On the contrary, we should be overflowing with thankfulness.  Our lack of thankfulness comes from us setting a bar, an expectation for minimums in our lives.

Consider professional sports stars, genius scientists, or those who win beauty pageants. No matter how hard the average person works, they will NEVER attain worldly status like those gifted individuals. No matter how gifted a person born in a Developing Country is, they most probably will never have those opportunities. It is also a gift when we were born. 200 years ago, even the most elite did not have electricity or be able to fly in an airplane.

APPLYING THE PARALLEL: Consider your physical abilities that some people do not have. (Sight, hearing, arms, legs, and physical strength) Consider when and where you were born.  Think about how much you were taught by words and examples growing up. Visualize each of those things as gifts. 

Write out a list of personal attributes and accomplishments. They could be looks, athletic abilities, intellect, or how much money or material things you have or have had in the past. Do you see yourself as better than people who do not have your qualities or accomplishments?  Be honest.

Consider the following verses and write down any change in perspective.  Write another list of your expectations out of life. Examples could possibly include, but not be limited to: not having physical discomfort, having enough money to do as you wish, or for others to treat you in a particular manner.

After meditating on the verses below, write out any changes in your perspective.

Next, write out at least five benefits you have because of your Salvation.

Take at least 3-5 minutes to think about them. Look at something blank like a piece of paper or the wall.

Read Eph 2:8-9. Spend at least 2-3 minutes thinking about what you did to deserve the gift of your Salvation which is nothing. Remember, there is nothing you can do to "deserve Salvation."

Spend at least 2-3 minutes thinking about your view of your value in relation to others in light of what you wrote earlier and considering you cannot do anything to deserve an eternal relationship with God in Heaven.

●    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

●     You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deut 8:17-18)

●    Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes 5:18) 

●    Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James 4:17)

●    "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."  (Matt 8:20)

●    For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (I Cor 4:7)