Give Thanks to God in all Things

10th October, 2010

20th Sunday After Pentecost

Preacher: Revd Isaac Etuah Jackson


Bible Readings
2Kings 5:1-3, 7-17     2Tim2:8-15        Luke 17:11-19

Text: 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.


Beloved in the Lord, today is 20th Sunday after Pentecost and we are 11 Sundays to the end of the year. The theme for today is apt for us to consider how thankful we have been to God; in our joys and in our sorrows.

At times we make the sad mistake in thinking that it is God’s duty to protect and provide for us.

In the First Reading from 2Kings, we saw Naaman, a Pagan commander of the King of Aram who was suffering from an incurable skin disease – usually referred to in Old Testament times as Leprosy. A slave-girl captured in one of Naaman’s raids and who served his wife suggested that his master sees the Prophet who lived in Samaria. This was the Prophet Elisha.

The Prophet told Naaman to go wash himself seven times in the river Jordan. But Naaman reasoned that if he had to take a bath in a river in order to be healed, then there are better and bigger rivers in Damascus. 2Ki 5:12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. Sometimes we too want to design God’s salvation to suit us. Naaman would not have been healed if he had washed in another river. He left in a rage because he thought the process for the cure of his disease was too simple. 1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Full of pride and self-will, he could not accept the simple cure of faith. Fortunately, he accepted the advice of his servants and did as the Man of God had instructed and then he received his healing.

2Ki 5:13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"

14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman, who thought that the God of Israel was only one among many gods, now could say there is no god in all the world except in Israel... 2Ki 5:15 ¶ Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."...he was full of gratitude and offered Elisha rich gifts. But Elisha refused the gifts to show that God’s favour cannot be purchased. That was the mark of a true man of God; that he was not out to make money or acquire possessions but one who seeks the welfare of others.

Beloved in the Lord, in the 3rd Reading, Jesus healed 10 men who had leprosy. Among the ten was a Samaritan. In those days, Israelites and Samaritans had nothing in common, but here we see a common sickness or misfortune had broken down the racial and religious barriers. They only remembered that they were sick people who were in need and together they shouted with one voice. Lu 17:11 And as He went to Jerusalem, it happened that he went through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered into a certain village, ten leprous men met Him, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted voice and said, Jesus, Master, pity us!

They stood afar off: Lev 13:46 All the days in which the plague (Leprosy) is in him he shall be defiled. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Jesus asked them to go and show themselves to the priest – a very simple process of healing- and on their way they were healed, but only one, the Samaritan, came back to thank his benefactor. This pleased the Lord and led him to remark on the ingratitude of the others: Lu 17:15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

17 Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

Beloved, before we comment on the actions of the nine, let us wait for a moment and ask ourselves how many of us return thanks to God for our lives. Many of us seek God only when we are in difficulty – like the lepers. While things are going on well – no sickness in our home, business is booming and when there is peace all around us, we forget to thank God; but as soon as trouble strikes we rush to Him and implore Him to have pity on us.

Naaman - a pagan army commander - sought God for healing, likewise the 10 lepers; but Naaman and the Samaritan both strangers to the Jewish religion saw the need to come back and thank their benefactors. We too must always come back to God and thank Him for the many blessings and mercies He shows us. David knew how to praise God - Ps 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The forthcoming Harvest is another opportunity for us to show or gratitude to God.

Please read also MHB 963: 1 & 3

Let us give thanks to God in all situations we find ourselves.