Message summary: Are you living on Thankless Lane? Or are you expressing thankfulness to God and to others? We sure hope you're living on Thankful Lane!

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"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).

This morning I had a dental appointment to install a "bridge". My dentist, Dr. Dinse, is a kind-hearted man who repeatedly expressed thanks to his dental assistant during the course of the procedure.

Thankfulness, whether expressed to God or to others, provides the atmosphere of a pleasant setting, for the giver, the recipient and for those within earshot. There are far too many settings where anger, ingratitude and belligerent speech are the norm causing the hearer to be stressed rather than to be blessed.

Rising Sun is a small town in Maryland just south of the Pennsylvania state line. We've driven through the town a few times on the way to the shore and just east of the little hamlet is a road sign that catches our attention every time we drive through. It identifies the road as "Thankless Lane".

We wonder how they ever came 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? Or 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 write down as their address "Thankless Lane". Can you imagine the following conversation?  "You live in Rising Sun?  What street do you live on?" "I live on Thankless Lane." "What was that street name again?" At least I know that's how the conversation would go if I were asking the question. I'd be wondering 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. But there are many people who, by their outlook in life, have taken up residency 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:

Are we 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!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber