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Topic: Thanksgiving Text: Luke 17:11-19 * We make every effort to instill in our children the concept of gratitude. Around our house, it sounded like “pe-pees” (pretty please) and “dee-doo” (thank you). Our hope was that what had been taught as a mechanical response, would one day become an attitude; but it’s really hard to make the transition and some never seem to. * But, we all realize how increasingly difficult it is to instill such a value in our children because it’s so contrary to the attitude prevalent in our culture, which is… “entitlement”. “entitlement” (Wikipedia)- A perceived ‘right to demand.’ Opposite of a gift, in that it is without appreciation. A "you owe me" obligation for which, I owe nothing in return. * Entitlement… … it makes demands of others, … it’s always disappointed (that there wasn’t more), … is never satisfied. * Even our “thank you”, at times, appears to be nothing more than our patronizing way of recognizing someone else’s willingness to do for us what was due us anyway! “please”- meant to soften the heart of the giver. “thank you”- meant to ensure that whatever was being withheld would be released to us. 1 Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is a gift from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” I’d like to make a couple of “Let’s Face It” observations… “You’re a charity case!” “Everything you have is a hand-me-down!” Matthew 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give”. At the risk of stating the obvious, generosity is the appropriate response to having received. It’s not the only response, but the one that best helps us ‘connect the dots’ (to be whole). * But, receiving “freely” is the really tough part. It means that I must: - renounce independence (self-sufficiency) - recognize my indebtedness (not as merely a duty, but as the appropriate response to God’s loving generosity) - reject the notion of adequacy (grace cannot be grace it I can earn it). * The passage in Luke seems to be a brief account of another miracle that Jesus has performed, but more attention seems to be given to the reaction of the individuals involved than the miracle itself. The man being spotlighted here responds as one would imagine to such a dramatic turn of events. He has been healed, welcomed back into normal societal function, able to worship, able to embrace and be embraced. * So, the fact that the one man shouted for joy, ran back and threw himself at Jesus feet in gratitude is not as noteworthy as the fact that nine didn’t. Maybe they were so happy to be freed from their limitations that they merely did not think to go back; after all, it’s what Jesus does and he doesn’t do it so we will thank him. Maybe they thought Jesus would have taken his sideshow on ‘down the road’ by the time they could have made it back. We don’t know the particular reason, but we are familiar with the condition… ingratitude. “Didn’t I heal ten men?” “Where are the other nine?” * Jesus seems perplexed at the response of the nine. He has just finished reminding the disciples that no matter how much they do, God is never indebted to them (Luke 17: 7-10). Romans 11:35 “Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?” (you ‘owe’ me, God!) Certainly, few of us would have the courage to make such a bold declaration, but who of us has not thought it at one time? Interestingly, Paul goes on to talk about our expected response to all that God has done for us… “worship”; giving ourselves to him out of gratitude. IT’S ONLY REASONABLE! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “… give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will…” It’s understandable why we would have a hard time saying ‘thanks’ in adversity, but the lack of gratitude on the part of the nine takes even us by surprise! * Or, is the shock value meant for us? (the question seemed to be directed at the disciples) Might it be meant as a challenge of our tendencies toward ingratitude for all the many graces we enjoy almost as a “perk” for following God?! As if, somehow, God is indebted for our faithfulness to him! * Interestingly, “gratitude” and “grace” share the same root word. They are inseparable. Reflections… ►Don’t forget to say “grace” (thanks). Receiving grace is only part of the process of restoration. It requires that we say grace; we return to give thanks. “return”- interesting that it connotes the same idea as repentance; it requires a different way of seeing life. ►Gratitude is what distinguishes us from all the other “takers”. Saying “thank you” is an act of courtesy (in recognition of a gift), gratitude is an act of worship (connecting us with the giver). ►Don’t take what’s in his hand without finding out what’s in his heart. * I face a certain dilemma (usually at Christmas and my birthday) each time someone wants to give me a gift. I don’t know what I want! But, I do know that if you will just give me cash, it will help to ensure that I get what I really want and not something that I need! (it’s why our kids want cash and not socks and underwear!) * Maybe you could call it “gluttony” (excess). It happens to me every time I eat at a Chinese Buffet. It overtakes me and I am helpless in its clutches! There is a myriad of choices presenting themselves which produces in me an inability to choose, because to select one is to neglect the other… and to do without is not an option! I cannot be deprived of what I desire! It’s never feeling full. * We say of someone in my condition that… “Their eyes were too big for their stomach”. ►Maybe it’s not that our eyes are too big, but that our hearts are too small! Maybe the remedy for gluttony is not to have less, but to give more! But, in order to give more, I have to be more thankful, because if I am ungrateful, nothing will satisfy me! * So, in battling this endless “wanting” in my life, I have come to discover that the opposite of wanting is not not having! The opposite of “wanting” is generosity, which is rooted in gratitude. ►Gratitude learns to see life as a tube, not Tupperware! When our approach to life is all about getting, it severely limits our life; we can only hold so much! When our approach is about freely receiving and freely giving, it allows for the limitless flow of all that God desires to do in and through us (as water runs through the tube, it is always giving, but is always full!) ►Without gratitude, you will never be able to celebrate the success of others. Being grateful for what I have does not mean that you have to go without! ►Gratitude is an “uncommon courtesy”. Not just a token “thanks”, but a heart posture that finds reasons to be grateful in uncommon things and people. If gratitude is my posture toward God for having received, generosity is my response toward others in learning to give.
► (9) were healed, (1) was made whole! |
