Luke 17:17-19 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
“Happiness does not make us grateful, gratitude keeps us happy – always”.
Gratitude prompts us to glorify God. The ungrateful would grumble that the glass is half empty but gratitude will help us to appreciate that the glass is half full. God does not need our appreciation and applause to boost His self-esteem. There are myriads of angels who are worshipping Him in heaven 24/7. (Revelation 5:11-12). However, glorifying God increases the favour of God in our lives and keeps us meek and simple before Him. Glory that is turned inwards puffs up and makes us proud. Pride is a repulsive sin. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
Gratitude guards our heart from falling in the despicable sin of pride. It is a dreadful sin as the proud will be too arrogant to take any correction until they lose the grace and mercy of God.
Jesus healed ten lepers who fell at His feet pleading to be healed. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:12-13). They didn’t take special permission from the hospital to visit a miracle crusade. In ancient times, lepers were outcasts who lived in leper colonies outside the township. They were ostracized by their family and friends. They were blamed and shamed for the incurable disease which was presumed as a punishment for their secret sins. Jesus could have healed them by touching them but He gave them the ‘gratitude test’. When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed (vs 14). According to the Mosaic Law, it was the priest who was also the physician who declared them free from leprosy. Once the priest affirms that they are cleansed, they can go back to their families and towns. The nine out of the ten, ran back into the village to see their family but one grateful soul came back to give honour to God in flesh, Jesus. The grateful will never forget the source of the gift.
Gratitude glorifies God:
1. Guard: Gratitude is the wall around our heart that protects it from being infiltrated with pride. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). Gratitude fortifies our heart from the attacks of arrogance and conceit.
2. Guide: Gratitude is the pointer and the compass that guides us back to the Giver of all gifts. Gratitude reminds us that God is the source of all blessings.
3. Glorify: Gratitude turns the glory back to God. Praise, appreciation or award that is not turned back to God turns into fat/(pride) that clogs the arteries of our heart.
Glorifying God does not boost His self-esteem but protects us from becoming self-centered and egocentric.
Luke 17:19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Prayer: Father God, may I never forget that everything that I enjoy is only from your bountiful abundance. Help me to pass the ‘Gratitude Test’. Amen.
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