Living in the Image of God M02S10
Appreciation means thankful recognition of benefits received, the human provider of the benefits, and God that empowers the provider—a three-step interaction that begins with the benefits, continues through the benefactor, and on to God. Appreciation occurs in the heart and seeks outward expression through testimony, thereby inspiring others to do more likewise; motivates hunger and thirst for righteousness and, thus, initiates the long-term benefits of human service; and breeds humility and happiness. Appreciate the intrinsic value of a person as God’s representative in human interactions and you will be happy you do.
This bible study discusses the meaning of appreciation, starting with the dictionary definition and expanding on it to understand more. We discuss appreciation as a three-step interaction that begins with thankful recognition of benefits received, continues through the benefactor, and on to God. We note that all the steps and their sequence are important for appreciation to be effective and impactful. We discuss the value of testimony for expressing and sharing appreciation and note that the beneficiary testimony regarding appreciation can inspire the benefactor and others to do more likewise. Let a person know their good deed is appreciated and they are more likely to do more for you and others.
Also, as we discuss in a previous study under Christ Teaches Appreciation—Woman with Persistent Bleeding, Christ teaches appreciation by creating opportunity for public testimony or directing the beneficiary to go and testify publicly. Further, to discuss the value of appreciation, we note that appreciation motivates hunger and thirst for righteousness and, by doing so, initiates the long-term benefits of human service. Also, we note that appreciation breeds humility and humility breeds appreciation. Similarly, appreciation breeds happiness and happiness breeds appreciation.
Meaning of Appreciation
This online dictionary defines appreciation as “thankful recognition.” To understand the definition, we note that appreciation begins with a thankful recognition of benefits received (e.g., goods or service provided to address a need); continues with a thankful recognition of the benefactor (i.e., the human provider of the goods or service); and proceeds to a thankful recognition that God positioned and empowered the benefactor to provide the benefits.
Appreciation often is a response to interactions that have occurred or interactions that are on-going. Also, appreciation could be a response to the intrinsic value of a person based on anticipation of interactions that are yet to occur. The intrinsic value of a person arises from a thankful recognition that every person is potentially a channel for God’s interactions with others.
Nature of Appreciation
Appreciation is a three-step interaction connected genetically in sequence. The first step leads to the second and the second leads to the third. The first step is to recognize and be thankful for the benefits, that is, the goods or service received; the second is to recognize and be thankful for the benefactor, that is, the human provider of the goods or service; and the third is to recognize and be thankful that God positioned and empowered the benefactor to provide the goods or service.
A thankful recognition of the benefits leads to a thankful recognition of the benefactor, which, in turn, leads to a thankful recognition that God positioned and empowered the benefactor. Appreciation cannot by-pass or omit any step and cannot re-arrange the steps. For example, you cannot jump to thanking God without understanding that God provided to you through a benefactor. Neither can you thank the benefactor without understanding the benefit.
Testimony in Appreciation
Appreciation occurs in the heart and there is no other kind. An appreciation that is not heart-felt is no appreciation at all. Also, appreciation seeks outward expression through public or private testimony. A testimony conveys gratitude to the benefactor, either privately or publicly. A public testimony regarding appreciation shares the information with others to expand awareness of the interactions. Also, a public or private testimony can be used to convey gratitude to God for positioning and empowering the benefactor to provide the benefits.
Testimony regarding appreciation inspires others to do likewise. A testimony to the benefactor encourages him or her to do more likewise, for the same beneficiary or for others. Similarly, a public testimony expands awareness of positive human interactions and inspires others to do likewise.
Based on Christ teaching that we discuss in other studies (e.g., Christ Teaches Appreciation—Woman with Persistent Bleeding), we understand that God wants us to testify about appreciation and is pleased when we do.
Christ Teaches Appreciation
The bible includes several accounts of Christ providing opportunity for a healing recipient to testify publicly. And other accounts where he directed the healing recipient to go home and testify. We can learn from such examples that it is important to God that a recipient of his favor should share the experience with others.
We will discuss examples, such as the woman healed of persistent bleeding (Mark 5:24–34); a man healed of leprosy (Luke 17:11–19); a man freed from demon possession (Mark 5:1-20); and the woman that interacted with Jesus at Jacob well (John 4:4–42). We will discuss these and other examples in future bible studies.
Value of Appreciation
Appreciation is important for initiating and propagating networks of provider-receiver relationships among people—thus, plays a key role toward fulfilling God’s purpose for distributing human service to points of need.
First, we note that appreciation motivates hunger and thirst for righteousness, because the appreciating beneficiary is motivated to be good to others. Also, his or her good deed to others will motivate them to be good to more others. Further, testimony by the beneficiary regarding his or her appreciation will inspire others to do likewise. Therefore, appreciation initiates the long-term benefits of human service, by motivating and inspiring others to do likewise.
Second, we note that appreciation breeds humility and humility breeds appreciation. Humility results from recognizing a person as the benefactor in an act of human service. Also, humility toward a person prepares the ground for recognizing the person as benefactor in providing goods or service for others. That is, humility and appreciation prepare the ground for each other. If you are humble toward a person, you will appreciate them. Also, if you appreciate a person, you will be humble toward them. For this reason, humility toward a person results from a thankful recognition that he or she could be God’s representative in interactions with you.
Third, we note that appreciation breeds happiness and happiness breeds appreciation. If you recognize a benefit received, you will appreciate the benefit, and the benefit will make you happy. Also, if something makes you happy, you will recognize it as a benefit and appreciate the benefit. Recognize the benefits of positive human interactions with others, even if there are other unpleasant outcome of the interactions. The recognition breeds appreciation which breeds happiness.
Summary of What We Learned
Appreciation is a three-step interaction that begins with a thankful recognition of benefits received; continues with a thankful recognition of the benefactor; and proceeds to a thankful recognition that God positioned and empowered the benefactor to provide the benefits.
Appreciation occurs in the heart and seeks outward expression through testimony, thereby inspiring others to do more likewise.
Appreciation motivates hunger and thirst for righteousness and, thus, initiates the long-term benefits of human service.
Appreciation breeds humility and happiness and is bred by either of the two. Appreciate the intrinsic value of a person as God’s representative in human interactions and you will be happy you do.