Ungrateful: 9 times out of 10           by Andrew Roberts

                Shared life struggles bring people together. We can comfort and strengthen others who suffer from problems we overcame. Often, people unify to overcome shared problems. Psychology encourages such unity and has borne “support groups.” These groups are made up of people with common problems, ailments or circumstances who lean on each other. This creates an environment that allows members to honestly share and sympathize with the group. 

Passing through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village and met a group of men who were suffering together. Reading the passage in Luke 17, it looks like Jesus encountered what we would term today as a “Male Leprosy Support Group.”“Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed” (Luke 17:12-14).

 Leprosy was a painful, deadly and contagious disease. Not only were these men forced out of town due to their condition, they were ostracized from their families and friends. These ten men doubtlessly relied on each other for survival. Notice that while they had their ailment to bind them together they acted in accord to seek healing from Christ. Yet, when the Lord mercifully healed them they went separate ways and only one returned to thank Jesus and praise God for his healing. “Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face and at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16).

 Only one out of ten lepers returned to say thanks. All ten were suffering in common. All ten came to Christ for help in common. All ten went to the priests in common. All ten were healed of leprosy in common. Yet only one man returned to Christ to show his gratitude. And this man was a Samaritan. The significance of his race is that Jews looked upon Samaritans as Gentiles who disrespected and disregarded God. Yet this Samaritan puts nine Jews to shame because of his gratitude. Jesus comments on this.“So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well’” (Luke 17:17-19).

This account is very telling of human nature. While the pain was there, these ten men were unified. While petitioning the Lord for help, these ten men were unified. But when their petitions were answered and their pain relieved, all but one forgot the Lord.

 I wonder how often we act in like fashion? We struggle with some problem, we petition the Lord, we see His favor shown to us and then…nine times out of ten we forget to thank Him, glorify Him and worship Him for His deliverance. We get so excited about our deliverance that we may act ungratefully toward God.

 How often do we pray to God for healing from our sicknesses and when the healing comes we thank (if anyone at all) the doctor! How often do we pray to God for comfort in our mourning and when comfort comes we thank (if anyone at all) the church, a preacher or friends! We ought to recognize that God uses doctors, preachers, friends, family and the church as His tools to answer our prayers. He is still deserving of all glory, honor, praise and…thanks!

 Echoes of this thankful Samaritan often surround us today. There are many candid conversations with God in hospital waiting rooms. To our shame, often the unchurched are quicker to recognize the providential hand of God and give thanks than believers.

 Let us be mindful of the example of the Samaritan and remember the words of the Apostle Paul who exhorts us “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). May it never be said of us that we were ungrateful, 9 times out of 10.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

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If we ever forget we are a nation under God, we will be a nation gone under.