WWJD By Dr. Richard Youngblood
Question: Why would Jesus
encourage us to be thankful people?
One
time Jesus healed ten lepers. They cried
out, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” But
Jesus did not reach out and touch them or command, “Be healed” as he often did. Instead, he told them to act as though they had
already been healed by telling them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they went they were healed. Yet only one returned to give thanks, and he
was a despised Samaritan that many would have not expected to do so. Jesus said, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:11-19).
The
reaction of Jesus in this situation well illustrates how thankfulness opens the
door to still other blessings. Although Jesus
was disappointed that the nine did not return to give thanks, he was not disappointed
for himself. He did not demand they
offer thanks, and he did not heal them in order to receive personal
praise. Jesus was disappointed because
of what they missed by failing to show gratitude. To the one who did return to give thanks he
said, “Go, your faith has made you well.”
The word translated “well” is the usual word for salvation or spiritual
healing. The despised Samaritan who did return
to give thanks received both physical and spiritual healing. Through his gratitude, he received even greater
blessings.
Thankfulness
also brings us into a deeper relationship with God because it leads us to
reflect upon all he does for us. James,
the brother of Jesus, wrote: “Every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change
like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained that God his father “causes his sun
to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). When we see every possession as a gift from God and every
incident a divine influence at work for our good, we cannot help but love,
praise and thank him daily.
In addition, thankfulness
opens the door to opportunities for richer relationships with our fellow
humans. By words of thankfulness, we bless, encourage
and motivate one another to continue our good deeds and kindnesses. Thus, a thankful heart sees the whole world
in a different light and experiences a joy that the ungrateful miss.
Finally,
gratitude is a gift anyone can give whether poor or rich, young or old. It is a gift we can give even to the one who
has everything. What do you give to a
God who owns the cattle on at thousand hills and the wealth in every mine? Neither a gift worth millions, church
attendance nor any sacrifice can ever compare to the richness of the gift of thanksgiving
spoken and lived in our everyday lives.
A simple “thank you” can transform one’s own life, his relationship with
the Heavenly Father and his relationship with those who surround him in this world. Come, let us “give thanks to the LORD for his
unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” (Psalm 107:8), [Send questions or comments
to University Church of Christ, 801 N. 12th,