https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Appreciation.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: I Thessalonians 5:9-15<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. There is a deep seat desire in every person to be important<\/p>\n
A. “Everyone likes a compliment.” – Abraham Lincoln<\/p>\n B. “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William\n\tJones\n
II. Satan understands this<\/p>\n
A. Sin has its roots in our desires – James 1:13-16<\/p>\n
B. One avenue that Satan uses is “pride of life” – I John 2:16-17<\/p>\n
C. Satan used this to tempt Eve – Genesis 3:6<\/p>\n
D. In a sense, pride is a warping of our natural desire to be appreciated.<\/p>\n E. A desire to belong, a desire to be appreciated, is what drives people together. It is\nwhat stirs people to create great works. But is it also what lures people into gangs\n\tand crime – Proverbs 1:10-16\n
III. What defines your character is what makes you feel important <\/p>\n
A. Most of the world defines importance by authority – Matthew 20:25<\/p>\n
B. Some find importance in having things named after them – Ecclesiastes 6:10<\/p>\n 1. Millionaires financed Admiral Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica with an\n\t“understanding” that mountain ranges found would be named after them.\n
2. Not that it truly makes a difference in the long run – Ecclesiastes 1:11<\/p>\n 3. Can anyone name one of those millionaires or the mountains named after\n\tthem?\n
C. Others try forcing importance through demands<\/p>\n 1. “People sometimes become invalids in order to win sympathy and attention,\nand get a feeling of importance. For example, take Mrs. McKinley. She got\na feeling of importance by forcing her husband, the President of the United\nStates to neglect important affairs of state while he reclined on the bed\nbeside her for hours at a time, his arms about her, soothing her to sleep. She\nfed her gnawing desire for attention by insisting that he remain with her\nwhile she was having her teeth fixed, and once created a stormy scene when\nhe had to leave her alone with the dentist while he kept an appointment with\nJohn Hay, his secretary of state.” – Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and\n\tInfluence People<\/i>, p. 20.\n D. There are people who compare themselves to others. If I can get more attention than\n\tothers, then “obviously” I’m more important than others – II Corinthians 10:12\n
E. But among Christ’s followers, importance is defined by service – Matthew 20:26-28<\/p>\n
1. Better to give service than to receive service – Acts 20:34-35<\/p>\n
2. The greatest in the kingdom is the servant – Luke 22:25-27<\/p>\n 3. Service gives the deepest satisfaction of being important in another person’s\n\tlife. And it is most likely to lead to appreciation from those being helped.\n
IV. Neglected Praise<\/p>\n A. We ought to understand the need in our fellow man is the same as our own. We\n\twant to be appreciated.\n 1. “Once I did bad, and that I heard over. \/ Twice I did good, but that I heard\n\tnever”\n
2. Love keeps no record of wrong – I Corinthians 13:5<\/p>\n 3. But far too many people will give a tongue lashing because of their personal\n\tpride instead of preserving another – Proverbs 15:28; 29:11\n B. At the end of long day of heavy work, a farm woman set before her menfolk\nheaping piles of hay. “What are you doing?” they demanded, “Are you crazy? We\ncan’t eat this!” To which she replied, “How was I to know what you liked? I’ve\nbeen cooking for you men for the last twenty years and in all that time I ain’t heard\n\tone word to let me know you weren’t just eating hay.”\n
1. God expects us to appreciate the things He has done for us – Luke 17:12-19<\/p>\n
2. We should do the same for our fellow man – <\/p>\n
C. Now we are not talking about flattery. Flattery is shallow, selfish, and insincere.<\/p>\n
1. Kisses of an enemy – Proverbs 27:6<\/p>\n
2. Double minded – Psalm 12:1-4<\/p>\n
3. Self serving liars – Romans 16:18<\/p>\n
D. What we need to offer is sincere appreciation<\/p>\n 1. Paul Harvey in his Rest of the Story<\/i> broadcasts told of a young teacher in\nDetroit who asked her student, Stevie Morris, to help her. It seems a mouse\nhad gotten away from its cage and she couldn’t find it. She understood that\nnature had given Stevie something that no one else had in the room. You\nsee, Stevie had remarkable hearing. It compensated for his blindness. She\nwould appreciate it if he could locate the mouse with his hearing, and locate\nit he did. This was the first time Stevie was appreciated for something that\nhe could do and do well. That one act of appreciation was a turning point in\nhis life. He developed his talent, took on the stage name of Stevie Wonder,\n\tand became a great pop singer and song writer.\n 2. When you enjoy a good meal, send word to the chef. When a sales person\n\tgives you unusual courtesy, mention it.\n
3. Use pleasant words – Proverbs 16:23-24<\/p>\n
4. Fitly spoken words – Proverbs 25:11<\/p>\n
5. Words spoken at the right time – Proverbs 15:23<\/p>\n E. Even difficult people can have things to compliment. Think of all the problems Paul\n\thad with the Corinthians, yet notice what he said – II Corinthians 7:14\n 1. Emerson once said, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that,\n\tI learn of him.”\nV. We should not search for praise, though we all like to receive it. But we should know that\n\twe and others like praise and we should be generous in giving it – Proverbs 27:2\n
A. Paul did not seek glory from men – I Thessalonians 2:5-6<\/p>\n
B. But he looked forward to encouraging and being encouraged – Romans 1:12<\/p>\n
C. Barnabas did it for others – Acts 11:23<\/p>\n
D. People happy at receiving encouragement – Acts 15:31<\/p>\n
E. Encouraged with hearts knitted together in love – Colossians 2:1-3<\/p>\n F. “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or\nany kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer\n\tor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.” – Anonymous, 1868\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:9-15 I. There is a deep seat desire in every person to be important A. “Everyone likes a compliment.” – Abraham Lincoln B. “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William Jones II. Satan understands this A. Sin has its roots in our desires – James…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[681],"class_list":["post-53538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-appreciation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14682,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-appreciate-that-you-post-your-sermon-texts-and-not-just-audio-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":0},"title":"I appreciate that you post your sermon texts and not just audio files","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, Hope this email finds you well I just wanted to send a quick message to express my appreciation for your website.\u00a0The fact that you take the time to post sermons in text form rather than audio-only is a tremendous help in studying the word.\u00a0I have learned a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51155,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-the-song-leader-to-express-appreciation-for-the-preacher-and-his-lesson\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":1},"title":"Is it wrong for the song leader to express appreciation for the preacher and his lesson?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello brother Jeffrey, I hope you are doing well. I recently heard a brother ask this question and wanted to reach out to you with it. If hand clapping in worship is wrong, what is the difference between that and a song leader appreciating the preacher after his sermon?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29411,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/drinking-in-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":2},"title":"Drinking in the Bible","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Old Testament Sermon with Audio: Drinking in the Old Testament Article: Old Testament Beverages New Testament Sermon with audio: Drinking in the New Testament Article: New Testament Beverages","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0013_tif-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":86723,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-this-was-my-last-sermon\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":3},"title":"What If This Was My Last Sermon?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Raymond Warfel Download Audio","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88806,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dwelling-in-the-spirit\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":4},"title":"Dwelling in the Spirit","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Darrell Hamilton","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24258,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-unity\/","url_meta":{"origin":53538,"position":5},"title":"The Unity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:1-6 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Our Lord\u2019s desire was that his followers would be united - John 17:20-23 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the intervening years, the world has accepted lies. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They believe that as long as we agree on something, then there is unity II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The attitude of unity - Ephesians\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53538"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53538\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}