The Least Likely to Say Thanks!

by wib_wob_wu – Thank You

Who is the person who is least likely to express appreciation?

Is it the poor person who lives off of weekly handouts?

Is it the rich person who doesn’t care that you served them well?

Is it the young person who is too arrogant and self-centered to pause and say thanks?

Or is it the old person who is bitter and grumpy?

Who is the least likely to say thanks?

In the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers found in Luke 17:10-19 we see that 9 out of 10 did not return to say thanks.  They had been healed from leprosy.  This was revolutionary for them.  It changed their relationships with the community and with family.  They could return to a “normal” life and were cured from a horrible physical malady.  Yet only one returned.

What made this one different from the other nine?

It is possible, he was the only foreigner in the group.  Jesus remarked, “Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (v. 18).  It is likely that the other healed lepers were Jewish.

Only the Samaritan returned.  And in this story we find our answer of who is the least likely to say thanks;  the one who takes his blessings for granted!  These Jewish men apparently had an entitlement attitude and a feeling of deserving God’s blessings.  They were God’s chosen and they took this extra blessing for granted. They did not see the need to return and say thanks!

Which gets me back to my application.  If you are a Christian, one who has been blessed like myself in so many ways, you can be the least likely to say thank you!  We, like these nine Jewish lepers, can take all of our blessings for granted.  We can feel entitled, like we deserve our blessings.  We fail to take the extra step and return and say thank you.

Instead of thinking of all the others who don’t say thanks, why not choose to let Jesus’ story remind you of the need to express appreciation.