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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
November 27, 2023
Amish farm in Lancaster County.
(Click on image to enlarge)
"The
Other Nine"
Message
summary:
Let’s not make
excuses for
being
unthankful to
God or to
others. Will
we be like the
one who
returned to
give thanks or
like the other
nine who
failed to do
so?
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:15-17).
During
the last 18
years of his
life
Andrew
Carnegie gave
away around
$350 million
(roughly $5.9
billion in
2022), almost
90 percent of
his fortune,
to charities.
When he died
he left one
million
dollars to one
of his
relatives, who
in return
cursed
Carnegie
thoroughly
because he had
given so much
to charities
and had left
him with just
one measly
million.
Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:15-17).
During
the last 18
years of his
life
Andrew
Carnegie gave
away around
$350 million
(roughly $5.9
billion in
2022), almost
90 percent of
his fortune,
to charities.
When he died
he left one
million
dollars to one
of his
relatives, who
in return
cursed
Carnegie
thoroughly
because he had
given so much
to charities
and had left
him with just
one measly
million.How’s
that for a
grateful
heart? Now a
million
dollars is
still a lot
today but can
you imagine
how much more
it was worth
when Andrew
Carnegie died
in 1919!
According to
this site*
$1,000,000 in
1919 has the
same
purchasing
power as
$17,389,595.38
today! Imagine
complaining
about this!
Carnegie’s
ungrateful
relative
reflects the
attitude of
far too many,
not only in
our day but
throughout the
centuries.
Let’s review a
healing where
Jesus healed
ten lepers but
nine failed to
return to
express
thankfulness.
Jesus often asked questions to get His listeners to probe their own minds before he would launch into an important teaching. Settings where teachers set up their lesson by first asking thought-provoking questions always stimulates my own thinking and when I teach it helps me to assess the group that I am teaching.
Jesus often asked questions to get His listeners to probe their own minds before he would launch into an important teaching. Settings where teachers set up their lesson by first asking thought-provoking questions always stimulates my own thinking and when I teach it helps me to assess the group that I am teaching.
In
Jesus’
teaching from
Luke 17:11-19
He had healed
ten lepers but
only one, a
Samaritan,
returned to
give Him
thanks. So
He asks three
probing
questions:- Were there not ten cleansed?
- But
the nine—where
are they?
- Was
no one found
who returned
to give glory
to God, except
this
foreigner?
-
This brief
Scripture
passage
certainly
drives home a
hard-hitting
message about
thankfulness,
but it also
stirs one’s
imagination
regarding
those who
failed to
express
thankfulness.
I’ve wondered
what excuses
the other nine
might have had
in failing to
return to give
Jesus thanks.
Of course the
text does not
tell us and we
can’t be
absolutely
certain, but
let us
consider nine
possible
excuses they
might have
used. Notice
they are all
pertinent to
our day as
well!
Perhaps the excuses were:
Perhaps the excuses were:
1)
One was too
busy. Surely
their time of
isolation due
to the leprosy
had left a lot
of work that
needed done.
(Self-importance)
2) One forgot. (Ingratitude)
3) One was planning to do it later. He reasoned that he would eventually get back to thank Jesus... sometime. (Procrastination)
4) One thought somebody else would do it. Perhaps he saw the one returning and assumed that “He will speak for all of us”. God does not accept vicarious praise. “Let everything that hath breath…” (Lazy)
5) One wanted to see if the healing would last. He looked and thought this is wonderful but let’s see if it comes back before I do any thanking. (Skeptical)
6) One had a religious prejudice. Perhaps he didn’t want to even be associated with the Samaritan (Superiority)
7) One thought it really didn’t matter. (Thoughtless)
8) One thought “I still have a lot of other problems.” Like many he saw the glass half empty. Indeed on this side whatever God may do for us we very likely have or will have other problems. (Negative)
9) One thought “I don’t want to bother Him.” Scripture is abundant in calls to thank, praise and glorify God. (Inferiority)
2) One forgot. (Ingratitude)
3) One was planning to do it later. He reasoned that he would eventually get back to thank Jesus... sometime. (Procrastination)
4) One thought somebody else would do it. Perhaps he saw the one returning and assumed that “He will speak for all of us”. God does not accept vicarious praise. “Let everything that hath breath…” (Lazy)
5) One wanted to see if the healing would last. He looked and thought this is wonderful but let’s see if it comes back before I do any thanking. (Skeptical)
6) One had a religious prejudice. Perhaps he didn’t want to even be associated with the Samaritan (Superiority)
7) One thought it really didn’t matter. (Thoughtless)
8) One thought “I still have a lot of other problems.” Like many he saw the glass half empty. Indeed on this side whatever God may do for us we very likely have or will have other problems. (Negative)
9) One thought “I don’t want to bother Him.” Scripture is abundant in calls to thank, praise and glorify God. (Inferiority)
What’s your excuse for not returning thanks to God?
Four great truths from this message:
1)
Thankfulness
is an act of
the will.
One of the
healed men
made the
decision to
return and
offer thanks.
“Now one of
them, when he
saw that he
had been
healed, turned
back". We
need to make a
firm decision
that we will
be thankful
and act upon
it.
2) Thankfulness matters to God. It brings glory to God. The man “returned to give glory to God". The Westminster Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever”. We can be assured Scripturally that as we thank God we also glorify Him. “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me” (Psalm 50:23).
3) Thankfulness is an excellent expression of faith. “And He said to him, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.’” This part of the text somewhat puzzles me. Apparently the Lord had seen faith in the demonstration of desperation in the ten lepers when they had cried out in a loud voice: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Now Jesus is commending that faith. Chuck Swindoll notes, “Faith believes in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”
4) Thankfulness is an excellent testimony. Consider that this story made it into the record of Holy Scripture because this man was thankful! As we live a life of thankfulness we also present a good testimony.
2) Thankfulness matters to God. It brings glory to God. The man “returned to give glory to God". The Westminster Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever”. We can be assured Scripturally that as we thank God we also glorify Him. “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me” (Psalm 50:23).
3) Thankfulness is an excellent expression of faith. “And He said to him, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.’” This part of the text somewhat puzzles me. Apparently the Lord had seen faith in the demonstration of desperation in the ten lepers when they had cried out in a loud voice: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Now Jesus is commending that faith. Chuck Swindoll notes, “Faith believes in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”
4) Thankfulness is an excellent testimony. Consider that this story made it into the record of Holy Scripture because this man was thankful! As we live a life of thankfulness we also present a good testimony.
Today let’s not make excuses for being unthankful to God or others. Will we be like the one who returned to give thanks or like the other nine?
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
want to bless
You at all
times allowing
praises to
spring from
our hearts and
express
themselves in
our words and
actions. As we
celebrate our
thanks to You
we tell of
Your mighty
power and
miracles in
our lives. We
teach these to
our children
so the next
generation
might know
them, even the
children not
yet born, that
they in turn
might teach
their
children. We
want each
generation to
set their
hopes anew on
You, Father,
remembering
Your glorious
and miraculous
provisions, as
their hearts
turn toward
You. Thank
You, Father,
for everything
You have done
and that which
is still in
the
works!
For apart from
You we have
nothing!
Amen.
(Prayer
inspired by
Psalm 78:5-8)
Additional thoughts from Bible teacher Brian Bell’s study notes on this passage:
*
How grateful
the men should
have been for
the providence
of God that
brought Jesus
into their
area.
* How grateful the men should have been for the love that caused Him to pay attention to them and their need.
* How grateful the men should have been for the grace and power of God that brought about their healing.
* How grateful the men should have been for the love that caused Him to pay attention to them and their need.
* How grateful the men should have been for the grace and power of God that brought about their healing.
"A
Thousand
Hallelujahs"
Watch
on YouTube
Brooke
Ligertwood
Perspective:
This website
converts
buying power
in a specific
year to today.
The $1.90 per
hour
minimum wage I
made in my
first job at
Kroger in 1971
would be worth
$13.67 today.
The house we
purchased for
$49,000 in
1986 would
cost $134,000.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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