Created for Praise – Luke 17:11-19
One distinction between Christians and non-Christians is understanding the need to be thankful, even in the middle of suffering (1 Peter 1:7-8; Hebrews 12:11). Paul said that the departure from the faith happens because of a lack of thankfulness (2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Let’s study the nine unthankful lepers from Luke 17:11-19 in order to learn from their example – let’s be like the lone thankful leper.
WE ALL NEED HELP – 17:11-12:
These men “stood at a distance” because they were lepers. One was “unclean” from the point of view of race (Samaritan) as well as unclean from the point of view of health (they were lepers).
All of us have problems. We are concerned about many things that we cannot do anything about. Nobody lives life without problems. That’s why we need help.
WE SERVE A MASTER FULL OF MERCY – 17:13-14:
The lepers recognize in Jesus the attribute of being a teacher and that He has the ability to heal them. So, they cry out or pray for mercy from Jesus. “Mercy” is found 119 times in the NASV. Mercy “describes the emotional response and resulting action after encountering the suffering or affliction of another” (Mounce, 447). So the lepers cry out for the “kindness” of Jesus to heal them.
God causes the sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sends the rain on the just and the unjust. Why? Because He is a God of mercy.
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GOD DESERVES PRAISE – 17:15-18:
One of the ten healed returns. One. One glorified God with a loud voice. One. The majority of the time, the majority are in error. One. Jesus healed all of them but not all were thankful.
The ten were blessed. The ten were healed. The ten experienced the goodness and kindness of God. The ten tasted the heavenly gift. The ten tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come. But one returned. One glorified God. One gave thanks to Jesus.
But not only that but giving thanks to God leads us to give thanks to others around us. If I am thankful to God for my wife, I will tell God. Then, I will tell my wife. When we show/express thankfulness, it communicates that we value that other person. One of the most important needs that we have as human beings is the need to feel valued, the need to feel appreciated. For over twenty five years, Dr. Nick Stinnett at the University of Alabama has studied what makes marriages strong and one of the six major qualities that make families strong is the quality of appreciation.
THANKSGIVING BRINGS FURTHER REWARD – 17:19:
Jesus told the Samaritan – “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” It seems here that Jesus passes from the physical blessing to the spiritual blessing (just as He did before in Mark 5).
Being thankful brings further rewards. With God, it brings further blessings. With our spouse, it will strengthen our relationship with the other and motivate him/her to do more. With our employer, it may bring added honor, responsibilities, even promotions. With our employees, it lights a fire under them to work more and harder – to go the extra mile.
Take home message: In everything, to everyone – give thanks.
–Paul Holland
