Saying “Thank You” in a world that doesn’t
Would you like to surprise people and really make their day? Try saying “Thank You”! Gratitude is one of the things that should mark every Christian. Gratitude is the polar opposite of entitlement. Gratitude acknowledges that what we receive from God and others in life, is most often a gift, and not an obligation.
Entitlement is nothing new; there’s an account in Luke 17:11-17 where Jesus came face to face with it. As He was making his way to Jerusalem ten men with leprosy called out to Him from a distance. They asked Jesus for mercy and pity, and He gave it to them- as they walked away they were healed on the spot! One of them seeing he was healed, turned around and came back, and threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. Jesus couldn’t help but notice the other nine took off without even a simple, “Thank You.”
“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17)
I just want to say, “Don’t expect people to say “thank you”… they should, but probably won’t. We live in an entitlement, flesh driven, self centered world. If they didn’t thank Jesus for something as wonderful as being healed from leprosy, what makes you think people will thank you for the things you do for them? It’s probably not going to happen! This is the story that I go back to when I encounter ingratitude. It’s easy to get callused if we’re not careful. It’s easy to just throw up our hands and say, “What’s the point!” It’s not really wrong to wonder as Jesus did, “Where are the other nine?” Ingratitude hurts! The least they could have done was say “Thank You”…
I’m just standing here thanking Jesus!
For the Christian, things should be different: Gratitude is to be our way of life!
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
As Christians, entitlement should be giving way to gratitude; selfishness should be giving way to thankfulness. Each of us is a leper cleansed. Are we returning to thank Jesus? Do we see the world in a brand new way? Notice what the one who returned to Jesus did after he was cleansed…
“He threw Himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him..” (Luke 17:16)
He fell at his feet, he humbled himself. The heart of gratitude is humility. The number one reason people don’t say “thank you”? Pride! The self centered nine that Jesus healed just went on their merry way; healed but not humbled. The one that returned to give thanks “threw himself at Jesus feet”; an utter abandonment of self to give praise to another. When we “return to give thanks”, whether to God or other people, what we’re really doing is saying, “This is not about ME, this is about YOU!” Saying “Thank You!” is recognizing others for what they’ve done.
Spread the joy!
Take a quick glance through the book of Philippians… have you ever noticed how “thanks” and “joy” are intertwined? The joyful Christian, is the thankful Christian! If you’ve lost your joy, check your gratitude.
You are the fragrance of Christ to the world… spread the joy around! (2 Corinthians 2:15) Amaze someone by noticing them, and saying, “Thank You!”
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