In the Psalms, we often find David expressing his gratitude to God for protection and provision, for safety and for comfort. King David was a thankful person, and an excellent example of deep gratitude. But the Psalms go beyond simply modeling thankfulness. There are numerous places where we are exhorted and commanded to express our gratitude. One example is Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;For His lovingkindness is everlasting. In other places were are reminded of the propriety of giving thanks, like Psalm 92:1It is good to give thanks to the LordAnd to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

In view of who God is, what He has done, and how we have benefited from His grace and mercy, we ought always to give thanks. Paul exhorts his readers to this attitude in Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

So it stands to reason that a posture of ingratitude that refuses to give thanks to God is properly and rightly sin against God. And this is a typical mark of the unbeliever who is given over to sin. In Romans 1:21 Paul writes about the unbelieving “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Dr. Albert Mohler observes from this verse that the refusal to give thanks is at the very heart of the fall, and at the heart of human sinfulness. He then suggests that ingratitude is the most fundamental of all sins. “Ingratitude is the primal problem of humanity from Genesis 3 forward,” he states. Every account of human sinfulness is an account of ingratitude to the gracious God who created and sustains us.

This insight helps us to evaluate many things correctly. First, it helps us to properly assess how fallen humanity operates, and the depth and breadth of their sinfulness. Every single time evil is transacted by a human being, it expresses wicked ingratitude to the Maker of all flesh Fallen men shake their fists in God’s face, rather than kneeling in humble thanks before His throne.

It is particularly helpful for reviewing our own choices and actions. When we choose to do things that are contrary to God’s revealed will, we inherently express ingratitude to the One who holds us in life. To lie, to cheat, to steal, to dishonor a parent, to break the Sabbath day, to murder or commit adultery in our hearts – it is all base ingratitude.