More Gratitude, Less Grumbling!

MORE GRATITUIDE, LESS GRUMBLING!

TEXT: LUKE 17:11-19

INTRO: We have so much to be thankful for. In spite of this, it’s easy to get wrapped up in becoming a grumbler over a person of gratitude!

ILLUS: Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersbe illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him. Our Daily Bread, February 20, 1994.

PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that gratitude is the obedient response of those whose ruined lives have been restored by the Master.

INT. SENT: Why should every child of God be known for having a grateful attitude over a grumbling attitude?

TRANS. SENT: In Luke 17:11-19, we find three biblical reasons for unrestrained gratitude in the life of the child of God. An attitude of gratitude grows in the life of the believer as he understands more of what God has done for him in the Lord Jesus Christ!

I. THE CONDITION OF THE MEN

A. Diseased

1. “…there met Him ten lepers.”

2. Leprosy in Biblical times was a terrible thing.

3. Once a person caught it, it was considered incurable, and those diagnosed with leprosy were banned from society.

4. Leviticus 13:45-46 states, "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ’Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.”

5. Think of how embarrassing that must have been to be a leper.

a. Disgusted with self

b. Perhaps angry at God

c. Consumed with your disease

d. No hope of healing

ILLUS: In October of 2008, our family attended a fall festival with Amy’s parents. There were at least a couple of thousand people on the grounds celebrating the fall and enjoying fun times, good food, singing, preaching, etc. Of all the people there, one lady stood out in the crowd. She probably had the disease known as “Elephants Disease.” Her face was disfigured greatly and honestly, it was a bit painful to look at her. What really got to me was this lady was wearing a shirt that said, “I love Jesus!” and she never stopped smiling!

6. How many of us would have had that kind of attitude of gratitude? Or would we be grumbling and groaning?

a. We gripe when our air goes out, but what about those who have no home?

b. We gripe about our common colds, but what about those dying with cancer?

c. We get upset when the kids mess up the house, what about those who would love to have children yet are unable?

d. We grumble if the sermon goes five minutes over, what about those who have never heard the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

ILLUS: “You can’t expect to be a lucky dog if you spend all your time growling.” Pentz, Zingers.

7. How are you doing today in the shape you are already in? Grateful or grumbling?

B. Disconnected

1. Notice these lepers, “stood afar off.”

Lepers would often travel in groups together.

2. Unable to be normal member of society, they would team up together – the unclean and the untouchables.

3. Because lepers are outsiders, they would be totally dependent on people inside the village to share some basic necessities of life with them and to be merciful to them.

ILLUS: Ken Gire, “There he lives. W/o love. W/o hope. W/o the simple joys & dignities of life: being smiled at…being greeted on the street…buying fresh fruit in the market… talking politics by the public fountain…laughing…getting to go to work…operating a business…haggling over prices w/a shopkeeper…getting a wedding invitation…singing hymns in the synagogue, celebrating Passover w/family. All these barred to him. Forever!”

4. In this day and age of computers and technology, it’s relatively easy to be “connected” with others.

a. Email

b. Facebook

c. Cell phones

d. Twitter

e. Texting

5. Yet with all of these technological advances, the one thing the young people of our generation craves is genuine, caring, committed relationships.

6. Aren’t you thankful for loving friendships?

a. Have you thanked family and friends for embracing you?

b. Who are you going to connect with over the holidays?

C. Doomed

1. There was no real way for these lepers to be healed…they were without hope, without strength, without a future.