A common problem in many relationships at time is that of taking the other person for granted. You can even carry this into your relationship with the Lord. Are You taking God for granted? Being thankful is a solution to this.
In 2 Kings 5 we read that Naaman heard about the prophet in Israel. According to the slave girl, who was maid to Naaman’s wife, this prophet could heal even leprosy. Naaman thought he could purchase healing and so sent gifts to the king of Israel who decided he was trying to pick a quarrel with him.
Elisha heard and told the king to send Naaman to him, verse 8. So Naaman came. He expected Elisha to come to meet him and pray over him and call on God, verse 11. Instead Elisha told him to go and wash in the river Jordan seven times, verse 10. Was Naaman thankful that Elisha asked him to do such a simple thing to receive healing? Not a bit! Naaman was outraged. He had his own expectations of how Elisha and God should act. He almost missed out on the blessing of healing because of his stubbornness of heart and lack of thankfulness. Only after his servants intervened and convinced him not to be rash, verse 13, did he do as Elisha said. Naaman washed and was made clean. He wanted to respond by giving Elisha gifts which Elisha refused. Elisha knew what God wants is obedience and then thankful hearts.
In Luke 17:11-19, while Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem he encountered ten lepers who were standing at a distance begged him for mercy. Jesus gave them a simple instruction, to go and show themselves to the priests. All ten of these men with leprosy, acted in obedience and faith. They set off to go to the priest, even though at that stage they saw no evidence of healing. As they went along the road, the healing occurred. This is where we see the difference. One man when ‘he saw that he had been healed, turned back glorifying God with loud voice,’ Luke 17:15. He fell on his face at the feet of Jesus, ‘giving thanks to Him,’ verse 16. Only this one man, a Samaritan, turned back to thank Jesus.
The ten lepers are a picture of this world. Those nine are typical of the general attitude towards Jesus – unthankful for the great healing He has brought about through His death, 1 John 4:9,10.
Do you express an attitude of heartfelt thankfulness for what Jesus has done for you? True faith is continually thankful. Nine were not thankful but took their healing for granted. Only one, realized that this healing demanded a response to Jesus. He recognized what Jesus had done for him.
Do you think you are having a tough time at the moment and have nothing to be thankful for? Think again. God loved you so much He sent His son to die for you, John 3:16, 18. Surely that is reason enough to be thankful. But then think of the blessing each of us have as children of God and the hope we have for the future.
At present I find it easy to be thankful. I only have to look around me to see how much I have to be thankful for. But there have been times when life has been a struggle and when everything was dark. Yet in the darkness of those times, God never left me. He saved me and upheld me. That alone is a starting point for thankfulness. Read his promise to His own in Matthew 28:20. and Hebrews 13:5.
Don’t take God for granted. We need to be thankful and to have an upward look. We need to be thanking God for His blessings and looking toward the eternal. What can you be thankful for today?
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
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