January 14, 2025

It’s important to be thankful for the gift, but more so to thank the giver.
 
As you know, in preparation for returning our Estimate of Giving cards as an act of worship the weekend of January 25-26, we are reading the account of Jesus healing ten lepers, only one of which returns to praise Jesus. I hope you’ll read it yourself, just 8 verses in the Gospel of Luke (17:11-19.)  
 
I’m sure the nine former lepers were grateful for the gift of their healing; they just didn't thank the giver of their healing.
 
Sadly, that’s not uncommon today. Which is too bad, because studies show that healthy and resilient people learn to "vocalize appreciation." That is, they learn to say “thank you,” an action that also implies messages of “I see you, appreciate you, love you.”  
 
A friend who taught elementary school for decades once shared that at Thanksgiving she asked her students to make a list of “all the things you are thankful for.” Context is everything, of course, and it wasn’t Sunday School or at a church. But not once did any child write “God” (or any name of God!), much less at the top of their list!
 
As people asked the nine ingrates about how they were miraculously healed, they say, "I dunno. But thankfully I am. It’s great!" But only one says “thank you” to the Healer. Luke says that “when he saw that he was healed, he turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” He praised God and thanked God. And Jesus commends him for it.
 
The nine ingrates are not punished. Jesus probably was disappointed, for them rather than himself. But he doesn’t take back or hold back the gift of healing. You hear the good news of that, right?  I do. And it is another reason for me to thank God!
 
Giving to God is a tangible way to thank the Giver of all good gifts. God doesn’t ‘need’ our money, but we ‘need’ to thank God.
 
That’s why the formula 10-10-80 has meant so much to me. Give God the first 10% back of what God has given me.  Recognize the giver, and give tangible thanks first. Save the next 10% (be responsible) and live abundantly with the 80% (be joyful). The math works, well. But even more so spiritually. Jesus says to the one “‘your faith has made you well.”  “Well” as in more thanks, more praise, less worry about having enough, more freedom, less guilt.
 
No gift is as important as the giver of the gift.  Jesus didn't question them for not being thankful. He questioned them for not praising God.  
 
Please prayerfully consider how you will thank God for the gifts God has given you. Write it down on an Estimate of Giving card. It’s not a contract with the church; it’s a personal thank you note to God.  A whole bunch of others will be doing the same thing a couple of weeks from now, in worship on January 25 and 26.*
 
Pastor Jim
 
* Maybe you can’t be in here that weekend, but want to take this step?  Please drop your pledge card off at the church, or return it in the mail, in the next week in time for us to include your confidential pledge as we pray for one another.