How should Romans 11:35 influence our gratitude and humility towards God? Romans 11:35 in Focus “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” The Core Truth: God Owes Us Nothing • God stands as the eternal Giver; humanity never initiates the exchange. • All things already belong to Him (Psalm 50:10-12; Job 41:11). • Salvation itself is unearned grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Because He needs nothing, every favor He grants flows from sheer mercy (Acts 17:25). Gratitude Born from Grace • Recognizing our absolute dependence prompts sincere thanksgiving. • Every blessing—spiritual or material—comes “from above” (James 1:17). • Thankfulness stays fresh when we remember we contribute nothing to God’s sufficiency. • Praising Him shifts focus from what we lack to what He freely supplies. • Like David, we can acknowledge that even our gifts to God originate with Him (1 Chronicles 29:14). Walking in Humility • Boasting evaporates when we see that nothing we possess is self-generated (1 Corinthians 4:7). • Humility guards against entitlement, replacing “God owes me” with “I owe God everything.” • Serving others becomes a privilege, mirroring Christ’s self-giving love (Philippians 2:5-8). • Obedience springs from reverence, not negotiation; we are beneficiaries, not creditors. Living It Out Each Day • Begin and end the day naming specific gifts received—life, forgiveness, provision. • Approach worship as response, not payment. • Release grudges and envy by recalling that God remains the ultimate Source and Judge. • Use resources—time, talents, treasures—as stewardship of what already belongs to Him. • Let every success spotlight His generosity, deepening both gratitude and humility. |
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