Which Comes First – Joy or Gratitude?

Read: Revelation 4

There is that age old question, which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Those that ponder this question may list their own specific reasons why they land on either side of this debate.   But the reality is, at least for this question, we will never really know for sure. 

What about today’s question, which comes first, joy or gratitude?  Some would say that obviously a person would have to be joyful before they were grateful. After all, if we were not yet happy and joyful, why would we be grateful? 

Author and lecturer Brene Brown, did 12 years of research and collected 11,000 pieces of data on this very question. She found that in every case, a person who described themselves as joyful or their lives as joyous, actively practiced gratitude.

In today’s reading, we see this played out even in the hallways of heaven. 

Verse 9 says, “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever . . .”

Do you see the progression? 

First, they give Him glory.  This word glory here is defined as giving an opinion, judgement or estimate of someone.  They reflected on the good character of the One sitting on the Throne. They saw Him as full of splendor, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity and majesty.

Next, they give honor.  Their refection upon God’s character leads them to elevate His value and worth in their sight.  They see that there is no one like Him, none that can compare to Him.

This leads them to give thanks.  They pour out their thanks and gratitude, praising Him with every fiber of their being. 

This giving of glory, honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne resulted in exuberant JOY! 

What about us?  We have this same God, the One who left His throne of glory and honor, to come to rescue me and you!  Death could not hold Him, the grave did not have the last say!  He is the One who lives forever and ever! 

May my life be spent finding new ways to glorify and honor to the One who is seated on the throne.  May I gratefully live my life for Him until He bring me home to joyful sing His praise forever! 

HE IS WORTHY!