Sunday School graduates are familiar with the story of how Jesus healed 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-16). After giving them instructions that would lead to the removal of their affliction, and then finding that following Christ’s instructions accomplished just that, only one of the ten returned to thank Him. The one is commended but the comparison is stark. Although 10 were given life-altering reprieves, only one expressed gratitude for the transformation.
Every time I revisit the story I find myself pondering what happened to the other nine. Did they have intentions of returning but were distracted by the joy they found in their revived societal standing? Did they think that a thank you note would be sufficient but didn’t have Christ’s forwarding address? Did they ever look down at their newly cleansed skin and feel guilt over the fact that a simple “thank you” was never proffered? Were they embarrassed at the time delay and that’s why they never (as far as we know) sought Christ out again?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. Christ does indicate that the nine who didn’t express their thanks were just as healed as the one who did. And while we may marvel at God’s mercy in healing even those who don’t take to say thank you, Evan S. Coslett reminds us that we have the opportunity to extend similar type of grace among those whom we serve. As he states:
“There were ten lepers healed, and only one turned back to give thanks, but it is to be noticed that our Lord did not recall His gift from the other nine because of their lack of gratitude. When we begin to lessen our acts of kindness and helpfulness because we think those who receive do not properly appreciate what is done for them, it is time to question our own motives.”
In other words, if our willingness to serve is based on the expression of thanks that we expect to receive, than our service will be incomplete. Instead, we must emulate Christ’s example and serve not because of what we expect in return, but because of the need that we see. Whether people express their appreciation appropriately is not the barometer for the effectiveness of our service. Instead it’s the degree of obedience to what God has called us to do. Even if others don’t appreciate the sacrifice, we can trust that God applauds it and that He will work through it to bring about His plan and good purpose.
It can be hard to serve when the efforts go unnoticed or the sacrifice seems unappreciated. However, in reality our service to man should not be because of who they are, but because of Who God is, and because of how He desires His children to live. Whether the people who are the recipients of our kindness every thank us appropriately is not the issue. The issue is whether our lives are lived in an expression of gratitude for all He has done for us.
