Cleaning staff, childcare workers, farmers, food workers and caregivers top the list of the most “thankless jobs” according to one website. You wouldn’t think that a lack of gratitude would be so common in a society that teaches its children to say please and thank you from the time they form their first syllables. When you think about it, it’s not the please that’s lacking as frequently as the thank you. Parents employ the time-honored tactic of holding goods hostage with the prompt, “What do you say?” but once in their possession, thank you’s just don’t stand the same chance.
Sadly, that is not a habit exclusive to children. Adult Christians are quick to go to God with a detailed “please” list. The specifics of health concerns, money issues, marital problems and parenting matters are frequently laid before God in earnest (as they should be). But if you were to compare the number of things you request against the frequency and specificity of your prayers of thanksgiving, how lopsided would it be?
An example of that contrast is found in the story of the Ten Lepers in Luke 17:11-19. In that account Jesus was traveling near the border of Samaria and Galilee, two populations known for their generational hate for one another. Illness and affliction, however, can make partners of the most hostile of enemies, and in this case, there were ten that were confederates due to leprosy. Their disease prevented them from drawing close to Jesus so from a distance they cried out to Him for mercy. He instructed them to report to the priest for examination and along the way they were all healed!
Of the ten only one returned to thank Jesus and it was a Samaritan, the longstanding rival to the Jews. These were ten men that had to live separated from friends and family, had to wear torn clothes, they had to keep their hair disheveled and had to cover their upper lip as they cried “Unclean!” while they walked. These men were miraculously spared from a miserable existence and only the natural enemy of the Jews sought out his Healer. The other nine rushed to enjoy the pleasure of the gift without thanking the Giver.
Note Jesus’ response to the faithful Samaritan.
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Lk. 17:17–19)
All ten were healed, yet Jesus tells the Samaritan that his faith made him well. That is to say that all ten were healed physically, but one responded appropriately by praising God and thanking Jesus. He had a complete faith. He had a saving faith.
How often could you be identified with the nine instead of the one? How often do you enjoy the fruit of answered prayer or the benefit of unrequested blessings with little or no acknowledgement of the Healer, the Giver, the Savior?
I challenge you to make a habit of two things. The first may already be one. When you offer to pray for someone, don’t wait. Instead of making a commitment that you may forget, preempt your promise by going straight to the throne with your friend while the request is fresh! Here is the second challenge. When someone joyfully reports to you how God answered his prayer or about how God blessed her life in an unexpected way, don’t stop at exclaiming, “Praise God!” Start there yes, and then rush again to the throne in thanksgiving! Ask your friend to join you in a prayer of gratitude. Make a conscious effort not to be a member of the nine. Make a habit of demonstrating a complete faith by thanking God and praising your Savior. Be the one.
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. (Ps. 7:17)