Luke 17:16-18(KJV)
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.
Ingratitude is a character trait that manifests itself as a lack of appreciation or thankfulness due to a favor received. At the root of all ingratitude is the love of one’s greatness. One of the characteristics of the last days is a lack of thanksgiving. The Bible says wicked people will be ungrateful(2 Timothy 3). Romans 1:21 says, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Ingratitude to God is therefore considered an act of wicked rebellion against Him. It makes us remember God only in times of adversity but forget Him in prosperity. It is the height of ungratefulness that man who has benefited immensely from the blessings of the Creator would look Him in the face and complain that the same God has done him little or no good. Ingratitude blinds our eyes to God’s goodness in our lives.
Jesus, after healing the ten lepers, only one of them returned to appreciate God for his healing. However, the remaining nine were ungrateful servants. It shows us the proportion of gratitude to the ungrateful in our era. Of every ten persons that God does something for, only a few will usually return to give glory to God. Ingratitude made the nine lepers not see what God did for them. And if we cannot notice what God has done for us, we will never see what He wants to do for us. There are many opportunities for gratitude, but few choose to take advantage of them. This disease of ungratefulness has found its way to our churches. Many have despised the Hand of God in their lives and have missed the greatness ahead. Many had miracles in their lives, but like the nine lepers, they have refused to be grateful for God’s Wondrous Works or acknowledge His Goodness. They complain, and that alone displeases God(Numbers 11:1). When God miraculously delivered the children of Israel from the cruel hands of Pharaoh and their tormentors, they became ungrateful instead of thanking Him. They complained endlessly about their lives until the Fire of God burnt and consumed them. That is what happens when we complain instead of giving thanks to God for all things. As children of God, we need to constantly show appreciation to God for His manifold blessings in our lives!
Beloved, beware of ingratitude because it shuts you off from God’s blessings. Regardless of your present situation, whether good, bad, or delightful, you are to thank Him. Be like the one who returned to Jesus to thank God for your restoration. God does not want you to thank Him because someone told you to do so. He wants your heart to rise joyfully and voluntarily every day with gratitude to Him whenever you remember His numerous benefits. Train your heart to be thankful in all situations: it will keep you from bitterness, discouragement, selfishness, anger, covetousness, and other ungodly attitudes. See the good in everything and thank God for all things. Today, look up. Look what God has done! Thank Him for working all things together for your good. Thank God for all He has done for you by counting your blessings and naming them one by one before His Throne of Grace. Remember, ingratitude does not make you whole but a greedy grabber.
O LORD, terminate every negative attitude that has accommodated ingratitude. Help me always to be grateful in all things in Jesus’ Name.