Pastor's Corner: Failure to give thanks

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "thankful" as feeling or expressing thanks; grateful. The dictionary defines "thankless" as not feeling or expressing thanks, ungrateful or not producing, not likely to produce thanks; unappreciated. In the Bible story of the 10 lepers only one came back to thank Jesus. How often do you give thanks for all that you have? Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of giving thanks, but what about the rest of the year?

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not 10 made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19 NRSV)

Ingratitude is at the root of a dark heart. This fundamental refusal to acknowledge the goodness of God began with Satan's ingratitude toward all God had given him and his refusal to function in the role God had designated for him. It ended in Satan perverting God's intended purposes and distorting every good thought and intention God had ever directed toward him.

Regardless of whether we have rejected God or are in rebellion against him, once the heart has become hardened by ingratitude, the result is the same: it becomes impossible for us to see or think clearly. If we function outside God's intended purposes, our thinking becomes skewed, and we find ourselves rationalizing even the most absurd sinful behaviors.

Once our hearts become hardened, we disengage from the truth and stop listening to our conscience, the internal law God has written on our hearts (see Romans 2:14-15). As time passes, we become increasingly disgruntled with those around us, with institutions, with anyone not in agreement with our selfish agendas. Eventually we detach from the truth as we become our own gods, placing ourselves in the role of arbiter of right and wrong.

In contrast, gratitude comes from a heart that's reconciled and at peace with God. When we are rooted in reality, we see all of life in its proper relationship to God.  When we give God his rightful place of honor and glory, we can think clearly about reality itself.

Has a spirit of ingratitude taken hold in your life? If so, confess your sin to God and ask him to give you an eternal perspective on your life and priorities. Then commit to allowing God to renew your mind (see Romans 12:2) with new attitudes that acknowledge God's place, his purpose and his provision in your life.

The next time you find yourself struggling with ingratitude, visit some residents at the care center or spend time working in the soup kitchen or food bank. As you serve others, you'll begin counting all the blessings you've taken for granted.

Shalom,

Pastor Michael O'Hearn

Hi-Line Lutheran Churches