Joyful Gratitude

There is no single area where the faith of the Bible is more at odds with 20th-century American culture than Job losing everything that he used to call his own. Americans believe they have certain rights: the right to be happy; the right to an acceptable standard of living; the right to a satisfying marriage and a fulfilling job. 

But according to the Bible, we have no rights! Whatever we do have we have because God in his grace and generosity has given it to us. When we realize this, there comes into our lives a joyful gratitude for what we have, and we are freed from resentment and anxiety over what we don't have.