Thank God For Everything
"He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him -- and he was a Samaritan." -- Luke 17:16
We live in the land of plenty. Most of us have more than enough food. We have a place to live, access to medical care, even cars to drive. We assume these things, as though we have some special right to them.
If there has been one good thing that came from the economic downturn, maybe it is that our core assumptions have been shaken. We know we are not guaranteed a job with a decent salary. We are not guaranteed a slice of the American dream. Indeed, we are not guaranteed anything.
In this passage, 10 lepers called out to Jesus for help. He cleansed them. But only one man -- a foreigner the Bible tells us -- returned to thank Jesus. The other nine appeared too focused on the gift to stop and thank the giver.
Isn't that often the case with all of us? We assume food. Oh, if we're proper Christians, we "give thanks" before we eat it. But do we truly mean it or are we simply going through the motions? Do we understand that all we have is a gift from God and not something we have done for ourselves?
Contrary to popular belief, hard-working people sometimes go hungry. Though we don't want to see it, smart and talented people lose their jobs. Strong people get sick. Good people make mistakes. What we have is not ever a guarantee.
We should take time each day to thank God for each gift he gives us. We should humbly remember that all we have, all we are, comes from Him.
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