Thankless Rescuer

One of [the lepers], when he saw that he was healed, returned . . . and fell down on his face at His feet. . . . So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

Luke 17:15-17

Edward Spencer, a seminary student, was part of a lifesaving squad when a ship ran aground on the shore of Lake Michigan in 1860. Spencer waded into the freezing water again and again, rescuing a total of seventeen passengers and permanently damaging his health. Years later at his funeral, it was mentioned that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

Those in attendance at Spencer’s funeral must have been thinking, How could you not thank the person who saved your life? In all fairness, those who were rescued most likely thought about thanking him but didn’t know where to find him or just became so busy with life that they forgot.

As Christians, we have so many reasons to thank and praise our heavenly Father. He not only saved us from the clutches of sin, but He also continually provides for us, loves us, blesses us, and guides us. With everything He is and everything He does, how could we not praise Him? We may often think of thanking our Lord and Savior, but we also need to act upon those thoughts, taking time each day to intentionally express our gratitude with praise.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD