Gratitude

"And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." (Luke 17: 12-19)

This is an interesting story in the life of Christ and we can thank Dr. Luke for including it in his account of the life of Christ; Especially considering these words by the Apostle John.

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21: 25)

The Holy Spirit made sure this story of the ten lepers got included into the collection of writings that would eventually become the New Testament. He has also made this story to be perpetuated, which, thankfully, it has till this hour. We who read it today can give God thanks for it, for we would be denied a great blessing without it.

We must not think, considering all the things that did not get written and preserved, of the life, teachings, and doings of the Son of God, that what was written and preserved, is of little value, but the very opposite, that what was written is precious indeed.

God desires that men praise and thank him. He is greatly displeased when they fail to give him due thanks. On the other hand, the Lord delights in those who regularly thank him.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5: 18)

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5: 20)

We are to give God thanks 1) Regularly and continually, without ceasing, and 2) For every single blessing. Why should we not? If we realize that every good thing any man has is the gift of God, yea, even every breath a man breathes, then we will see our obligation in this respect. If we realize that the air we breathe is God's air, that the ground upon which we walk is God's ground, and the sun that warms us is God's sun, then we will not fail to thank him for these things. Paul felt this sense of obligation, saying - "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God" (II Thessalonians 2: 13).

Wicked men, and sinners generally, do not feel this sense of obligation to give God his due return of thanks, for they do not believe that he is the one who gives to them the things they enjoy. Paul's indictment of these is given in these words - "...when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful" (Romans 1: 21). Ingrates! Without gratitude! What vile ingratitude do sinners manifest!

The righteous, and they who believe in God and his divine goodness and gracious providence, spend their lives "...abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2: 7) They are like the one leper who returned, first and foremost, to give Christ thanks for his healing. But, the question still resounds to all who read this story - "where are the nine?"

"...be ye thankful." (Colossians 3: 15)

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." (Psalm 69: 30)

Friend, are you giving God thanks daily for your life and for every good thing in it? Do you give to others more thanks for things than you give to God? To whom do you owe the greater obligation to return thanks? Do you want to be like the nine lepers or like the one leper? Do you want to be an ingrate, in your relationship to God, or one who is truly thankful?