The BBFI national meeting on Cape Cod in 2016 provided a great opportunity to reflect on the early beginnings of our nation while visiting Plymouth Rock, the replica Mayflower ship, and Burial Hill. Those Pilgrims who landed on Cape Cod almost 400 years ago knew nothing of the affluent American lifestyle we enjoy today. More than half of the original settlers died that first harsh New England winter. After a successful agricultural season the following summer, aided by Squanto and other Native Americans, the Pilgrims shared a harvest feast in gratitude for all God had done for them.
While the Pilgrims did not have much, they possessed gratitude. Since then, gratitude to God has been a part of the American culture and the very thing that built America. Of all our attitudes, gratitude is the most central. Cicero once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all others.” There is nothing more toxic than a negative attitude. And nothing compares with the value of humility that allows us to be truly grateful for everything we have.
THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES GRATITUDE
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: (Psalm 50:14)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
One of my favorite Bible stories about being thankful is in Luke 17:11-19. As Jesus traveled with His disciples through Samaria toward Jerusalem and the cross, He met ten lepers. This must have been an interesting encounter. I can imagine the awkward silence between disciples and lepers. Jesus had healed lepers before. Would he do it again? Could he do it for ten?
The lepers cried, “Have mercy on us.” And Jesus directed them to see the priest. As they left, I expect they were a little disappointed. They finally met Jesus, the miracle worker, but were told to leave exactly as they came. Nothing changed. Jesus may have been their last hope. If he couldn’t help them, they faced a life of sickness and isolation.
But as they went, something miraculous happened to them. They were cleansed. I’m sure they were so excited they ran to tell their family and friends and share the good news. Then we pick up the Bible story about one of the lepers:
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:15-19)
One man turned around and went back to Jesus, falling before His feet and thanking Him. Jesus was pleased with his actions, but he seems grieved at the absence of the other nine. Weren’t they cleansed as well? Why did only one return to thank Him?
I don’t know what happened to 90 percent of the group. Perhaps they journeyed to show themselves to the priest in obedience to the instruction of Jesus. Maybe they ran back to their families. One of them could have said, “I want to see if this really lasts.” But from Jesus’ response, only one did the right thing. He wasn’t content to see the priest. He wanted to see Jesus. Overcome with gratitude, he paused to offer thanks.
As I have read this story over and over again, I discover a few principles about the attitude of gratitude.
GRATITUDE IS THE PROPER RESPONSE TO GOD’S BLESSING
This grateful leper recognized he received a tremendous gift. Leprosy changed his life into a hopeless situation affecting his body, his relationships, and his soul. But Jesus brought hope into his life. He was changed! He would never be the same again, and he had to express thanks.
The others were cleansed also, but in the excitement of their new health, they forgot their former condition, their cries for help, and the miraculous response of Jesus. It is so easy for us to forget all the good things that happen to us. In the excitement of God’s blessings, we often forget where they came from. Or maybe we become accustomed to the blessings and the thrill lessens. We neglect to thank God for common blessings.
Being thankful is a courteous and appropriate response to a kind deed or action. We teach our children to say thank you. Though it should be, gratitude is not an automatic response. Jesus never solicited a grateful response. He didn’t tell any of them to come back and thank him. They should have, but he did not require it. Gratitude is a voluntary response from a heart that recognizes God’s blessings and desires to place the attention where it should be — at the feet of Jesus.
Gratitude is a voluntary response from a heart that recognizes God’s blessings and desires to place the attention where it should be — at the feet of Jesus. Click To TweetGRATITUDE COMPELS HUMBLE ACTION
This grateful leper recognized he had received a great gift and his action reflected the magnitude of the gift. He did not simply receive a nice gift. Because he had been radically improved, he responded with radical gratitude at the feet of Jesus. Falling at someone’s feet is a picture of submission and worship. By falling before the Savior he soiled the very flesh that had just been made clean. The voice that cried for healing now rose with a loud cry of gratitude.
I don’t know what motivated the grateful leper to move and the others to stay away. But I know his movement reflected his recognition of the miracle. Our gratitude reflects our deep understanding of the work God has done in our hearts. Jesus taught in another instance that the more we are forgiven, the more we respond in love (Luke 7:47). We all need forgiveness, but most of us don’t recognize our sinfulness enough to be truly grateful. Too often we feel like we somehow deserve the blessings. The measure of our gratitude reveals the measure of our humility.
Most of us would never say we are not grateful for what God has done for us. But often we are like the pharisee who was simply grateful he wasn’t like the publican (Luke 18:9-14). It is when we think we deserve God’s blessings that we become less grateful. As we remain humble, we will be motivated to express our gratitude more.
Most of us would never say we are not grateful for what God has done for us. But often we are like the pharisee who was simply grateful he wasn’t like the publican Click To TweetGRATITUDE IS A RARE ATTITUDE
Ten people were touched with God’s power, but only one returned to give Him thanks. Nine were content to receive a blessing, but only one cared enough to return to the source of the blessing. How could anyone not feel thankful after being healed like this?
If this story is any indication of human nature, only ten percent of us express our gratitude. To make it personal, we probably miss nine out of ten opportunities to be grateful. I’m sure the other nine were grateful, but they failed to express it. I believe Jesus is still saddened by how few of us actually express thanksgiving to Him.
In my studying, I discovered a variation in the meaning of grateful and thanksgiving. We often use them interchangeably, but there is a difference. Grateful is an attitude. Thanksgiving is the action in response to a grateful attitude. This story teaches that we need both, and one without the other isn’t complete. Being grateful without expressing thanks is just rude. Expressing thanks without being truly grateful is hypocritical.
Grateful is an attitude. Thanksgiving is the action in response to a grateful attitude. Click To TweetGRATITUDE IS AN EVIDENCE OF A DEEP WORK OF GOD
Ten were cleansed but only one heard the words, “Your faith has made you whole.” Expressing gratitude lets us know we are on the right path to wholeness. Humble faith combined with heartfelt gratitude is a combination that will truly bring God’s best into our lives.
The other nine were no longer leprous, but they were still sick at heart. It was the display of humility, dependence, and appreciation for Jesus’ goodness that brought the grateful leper to the feet of Jesus. It was an act of worship. He did not just want God’s blessings and miracles, he wanted a personal relationship with Jesus — to be close to the one who was so kind to him.
When we really understand what God has done for us in saving our souls, it results in a desire to be close to Him and perform grateful acts of service. When gratitude is part of our lives, it changes our attitudes, our relationships, and our actions.
When gratitude is part of our lives, it changes our attitudes, our relationships, and our actions. Click To TweetLike leprosy, sin is a deadly problem only Jesus can fix. Like these men, to be cleansed from our sins begins with admitting our need and crying out to Jesus. As we realize the great miracle he has done for us, our proper response should be gratitude. As Paul encourages us, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
SO HOW CAN WE CULTIVATE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE?
The supreme way to show gratitude for all you have been given is to humble yourself before God, admit your sinful condition, and beg for forgiveness. Jesus will never force you to follow him, but he loves you so much and wants to have a relationship with you.
If you have surrendered all you are to Him, I hope you realize the tremendous blessings you have been given. Like the Johnson Oatman hymn reminds us, “Count your many blessings. Name them one by one.” Maybe if we spent more time being thankful for what we have, we would have more to be thankful for.
10 WAYS TO PRACTICE THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
- THANK GOD FOR EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.
- BE GRATEFUL FOR LITTLE THINGS.
- SAY THANK YOU MORE.
- CONSIDER WHAT YOU POSSESS RATHER THAN WHAT YOU LACK.
- HANG OUT MORE WITH GRATEFUL PEOPLE.
- EVERY DAY TELL SOMEONE WHY YOU APPRECIATE THEM.
- DO NOT LET PRIDE STAND IN THE WAY OF
- THANKING GOD AND OTHERS.
- BEGIN YOUR DAY BY LISTING FIVE THINGS FOR WHICH YOU ARE THANKFUL.
- END YOUR DAY BY THANKING GOD FOR THREE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
- KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL.
