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." (Luke 17: 12-18 KJV)

Parents, if they are wise, teach their children "gratitude." They teach them to say "thank you" to others for all acts of kindness. They are telling their children that ingratitude is unbecoming, a fault in character. It is important, in "building character," to learn to be "thankful."

According to the above story, nine out of ten people are careless about giving God thanks. They receive of him many good things and yet they do not express to him praise for his graciousness and his goodness. Only one in nine "return to give thanks" to God for his manifold benevolence.

Ingratitude is no little sin. If we feel obligated to tell men "thank you" for any act of kindness, we should especially feel obligated to say it to God.

This is because "every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights." (James 1: 17)

Giving thanks is giving God glory and praise. To fail to thank God is to rob him of what belongs to him.

It is a beautiful thing to behold! How comely is thanksgiving! How ugly is ingratitude!

Father, fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise! Let us not be as the nine, but as the one.