How do We Miss Out?

​The definition of gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for.” It is not about our circumstances, our season, our day, our attitude, or our mood. It is a readiness to show appreciation or gratefulness anyway, regardless of our feelings. Gratitude is a mindset. It is a habit. It is ready to be thankful even when we do not feel like it. I would say that Thanksgiving is a foundational pillar of Christianity.

Gratitude should fill the Christian’s life, especially with Thanksgiving on the horizon. So why am I so prone to ingratitude? Genuine gratitude seems mysterious.

We live in the most prosperous country in certainly the most prosperous era yet of all time. And as people who are bought back into a relationship with God by the merit of Jesus Christ, Christians should be even more thankful than anyone else. Besides, gratitude is fun! As G. K. Chesterton says, “Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” We miss out on so much when we fail to live gratefully.

Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

​Let me share a story with you. Jesus healing the ten people with leprosy is well known (Luke 17:11-19), but I think most of us remember the story, not because ten people with leprosy were healed, but because nine never thanked Jesus. No doubt about it, the people with leprosy were overjoyed at being healed. No longer would they be treated as outcasts in society. No more would they have to ring their bell, announcing their arrival, thereby giving people time to get out of the way. They would be reinstated in society and enjoy free movement where restrictions existed once. And they would now have the sheer pleasure of being hugged by someone other than a fellow person with leprosy. Even the simple gesture of shaking hands would now be possible. Of course, they were delighted to be whole again, yet nine never returned to say, "Thank you.” They had the attitude: "It’s obvious Jesus knows we are grateful. He saw the delight on our faces when he healed us. How could he not know that we are profoundly grateful for what he has done for us?" But what Jesus did know is that nine never personally thanked him, and he had his reaction recorded in the Bible.

Each week you are served by servants in your church. These are the people who keep the life of the church functioning by volunteering many hours to the cause of Christ and his people. If you are not careful, you might realize that you, like the nine people with leprosy, never personally say, "Thank you.” Jesus expected the nine people with leprosy to express their gratitude. As his followers, we need to express our gratitude, not only to God for all he does for us but to all his people who serve us in so many ways.

Make Every Day Count

Barry

Watch Sermon

Sermon Notes