Once when Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and passing through the borders of Samaria and Galilee, at a certain village He was met by ten lepers who asked for His mercy. Healing all ten, He then told them to go and show themselves to the priests. Although all ten were healed of their loathsome disease, only one returned to express appreciation for being healed. "And Jesus, answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" You would think that any man who had been cleansed of such a terrible disease would have been grateful enough to his benefactor to simply come and say "thanks." It is not so common a practice today as it needs to be. Do you suppose the ratio between the grateful and the ungrateful is as large today?

There are two specific passages which refer to ingratitude in the New Testament, and both of them place it in a very bad light. In Romans 1:18-32, Paul is describing the wretched condition of the heathen gentile world. They were lost, but without excuse, "because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened" (v. 21). Ingratitude was one of the characteristics of an unbelieving people. In Second Timothy 3:1-9, Paul is predicting "grievous times" ahead. "Men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..." (v. 3). In neither case does the attitude of ingratitude keep good company.

Often times children show little gratitude to their parents. As the children were growing up, their parents provided for their necessities and even luxuries, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. But some children never learn to appreciate the many blessings they have received, and treat aged parents with indifference or contempt.

And, sometimes older people fail to appreciate what is done for them in their declining years. Some become so engrossed in mourning lost youth and strength that they fail to be grateful for the blessings they do possess.

As ugly as such ingratitude is, it is far worse to be ungrateful to God. Most people appear to live as if God doesn't exist. The only time they are concerned about Him is in time of emergency. We once lived in a community that was hit by a tornado. People talked about praying to God for about three weeks, and then it was back to normal... indifference toward Him. Godly living and worship is how we should express our "thanks" for His blessings.

- Words of Life, 11/25/82