“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Lk. 17:15)

Have you noticed that for some people, “Thank you” and “I am sorry” are too mouth filling for them to utter? No matter what anybody does for such people, they are not able to say, “thank you”. No matter how convicted they are of their wrong doing, their lips are too heavy to say, “I am sorry”.

We each fall in one of three groups. The first group is represented by proud Nabal and the praying Pharisee. They are so full of themselves that they feel deflated to acknowledge any kind gesture. They know everything, can do everything, and are wiser and smarter than everybody. Remember Nabal’s sarcastic and insulting response to David’s messengers at his sheep-shearing feast? (1 Sam 25:2-38). Presented with such a great opportunity to acknowledge David and his men for protecting his flock and shepherds in the field, Nabal’s response was: Who is this David, and who is this son of Jesse … Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” (vv.10-11). No wonder his name means fool (v. 25). And do you remember the Pharisee’s prayer in the temple? “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector” (Lk. 18:11). No wonder he received no justification from God. Solomon warns that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18); and Paul adds that, “If anyone thinks of himself as something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3).

The second group is represented by greedy Gehazi. They are never satisfied or content with anything they receive. They want more and even all that the giver has. They think that everybody owes them and so it’s no big deal when they receive. Consequently, they find it difficult to say, “Thank you”. When they are able, their words are too feeble and insincere to be meaningful. Because of their insatiable appetite for more, they chase after everything and even grab things they don’t need or can’t use. Remember when Gehazi chased Naaman to lie and receive the gifts Elisha had turned down? (2 Kings 5:20-25). And again, he lied to cover himself before the man of God, unable to confess and ask for forgiveness. Like him, such people bring only condemnation on themselves (v.27).

The third group is represented by the thankful nameless leper. Because they understand the value of mercy and grace, they do not demean any gesture of kindness on their behalf. Rather, they are delighted by any offer, grateful, and content with what they have. They are always thanking God for His goodness through the generosity of their benefactors, so they can say, “Thank you”, with a blessing. Do you remember the Samaritan leper who alone returned to thank Jesus out of the ten who were healed? (Lk. 17:15). Such people are always filled with joy and blessed without measure, just as Jesus blessed him with spiritual wholeness (v.19).

We, the International Baptist Church of Dakar, will not be like the first two groups. But, like the lone leper who returned to thank Jesus, we come to Him today to celebrate God’s goodness and kindness to us as a Church for thirty-nine years of ministry in Senegal. We shout a big “Thank You” to God who has made it all possible.

In the same spirit, we ask that you too will take a moment to reflect on these three categories of people and see where your heart is. Do you appreciate God’s goodness and kindness to you? Are you content with His grace in salvation and keeping? Why don’t you express it with a hearty praise today and freely give of your self and say, “Thank You, Jesus!”

Happy Thanksgiving Day!