Message summary: Will we be like the one who returned to give "Thanks" or like the nine who did not? Are you expressing thankfulness to God and to others? We sure hope you're living on Thankful Lane!

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"Neither were they thankful" (Romans 1:21). "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Our local Christian radio station, WDAC occasionally announces the temperature of Rising Sun, a small town in Maryland just south of the Pennsylvania state line. We've driven through the town a few times and just east of the little hamlet is a road sign that catches our attention every time we drive through. It is Thankless Lane.

How did they ever come up with such a negative name? We began to speculate: Was there a grumpy old farmer that lived on this lane who had a reputation for being unthankful? Perhaps a good deed was done for someone and the kindness was spurned by ingratitude.

Whatever the basis of the name, there are a few folks who must state their address as "Thankless Lane." Can you imagine the conversation?  "Where do you live in Rising Sun?" "I live on Thankless Lane." "What was the street name again?" At least I know that's how the conversation would go if I were asking the question. I would wonder if I was hearing the street name properly. (For the terminally curious Thankless Lane is located here on a Google map)

We have determined that this is a road we wouldn't want to live on either literally or spiritually. This week we will consider the subject of thankfulness in our messages but we begin by considering an outlook in life similar to living on Thankless Lane.

There are people who, by their outlook in life, seem to live on Thankless Lane. Ingratitude is one of the most dominant and universal sins in the human race. The Apostle Paul in his sweeping, panoramic view of human depravity in Romans 1 makes this dismal statement, "They neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him". Later in his final epistle Paul lists some of the characteristics evident in the perilous last days. Among them we read that men will be "unthankful".

Being thankful is an often overlooked fruit of the maturing follower of Christ. Un-thankfulness on the other hand is a mark of man's depravity. And in this age of entitlements unthankfulness is ever increasing! I can recall several occasions in my life when the lack of gratitude was deafening as it was replaced by a grumbling, complaining outlook. The focus moves from "I've been blessed" to "I'm not getting what I deserve." It's a good thing we don't get what we deserve, but instead we receive God's abundant mercy and lovingkindness!

Jesus often asked questions to get his hearers to think, although He obviously knew the answer. In Luke 17:11-19 we read where He had healed ten lepers but only one returned to offer thanks and praise. We've often wondered what excuses the other nine had in failing to return and give Jesus thanks?

Three great truths concerning the importance of thankfulness can be derived from the leper who returned to give thanks:

• Thankfulness is an act of the will. The healed leper chose to return and give thanks. He did so very publicly and expressively. He "came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him."
• Thankfulness matters to God. Jesus was disturbed that the others did not return with thankfulness to give Him thanks: "Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'"
• Thankfulness is an excellent testimony. Others observed this and the story became part of the Scriptural record.

Will we be like the one who returned to give "Thanks!" or like the other nine who did not? Are you expressing thankfulness to God and to others? If I'm permitted to name a lane in heaven, where I live out my eternal dwelling, I'd sure be pleased to choose, Thankful Lane!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber