In many curricula today, there is a section at the beginning of a lesson called a “Teacher’s Devotional.” I typically enjoy the teacher’s devotional. I think it’s a great way to encourage teacher’s to look deeper into a lesson than what may be provided for the younger age group they are teaching. However, being written by people, curricula and the teacher’s devotional may not be in keeping with the Bible in all instances. One such instance came to me during a lesson about the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19. This account certainly places an importance on the concept of gratitude as Jesus asks the one who returned to thank Him, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18). My question is: Do we want people to show gratitude in order to “give glory to God?” or to give glory to ourselves?
The devotional told of receiving thank you cards for some kindness the author had dispensed. One thank you card was long and elegant with beautiful language that made the author feel truly appreciated. The second thank you card was short and simple, and made the author wonder if the thank you card writer even tried! Have you ever received cards like these? How did they make you feel?
But let’s take a step back. What are the Biblical requirements for gratitude? Jesus was happy with the man who made it a point to say “Thank you,” and worshiped God. Was he upset there was no follow-up thank you card? What is it that makes us want MORE gratitude after someone says “thank you” for a kindness done for them?
Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:1-4). Someone who gives with the expectation of a thank you card, is someone giving with the desire to have trumpets sound at their awesomeness.
Again, Jesus speaks of giving in Luke 14:12-14 – “Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” If you give to people who ‘pay you back’ (“you be repaid”), you are losing your heavenly reward. Your reward is from man, in the form of a thank you card. “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back” (Luke 6:35). Did you catch that? Don’t expect to get ANYTHING back for your kindnesses to others. That includes thank you cards!
I am, by no means, saying that thank you cards are ever inappropriate. A thank you card is a wonderful way we can show gratitude in keeping with God’s desire for us to have thankful hearts. My issue is with those receiving cards, or not receiving cards, causing a bitterness in their hearts towards one another. It feels nice to be appreciated; but, don’t let a perceived lack of appreciation poison your heart toward further kindnesses. God promises you will have your reward laid up for you in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
Consider also, by the way, that people have different gifts/talents. I’ve known people that can say all the right things, but whose sincerity is zero. Then, there’s people who have no gift of words; but, want to still communicate some simple truth. Perhaps it took them an hour of staring at that Thank You card until they settled on writing “Thank you for your gift.” Did someone write you a beautiful, flowery thank you card that made you feel good? Great!! Perhaps their gift for words allowed them to fully express how they felt. Did someone write you a thank you card that had a simple phrase on it? Great!! They thought of you and wanted you to know you were appreciated, even if they aren’t good at putting it in words, or showing it. Don’t move into judging another’s heart. Only God can know the motivations and thoughts of people (1 Kings 8:39).
Let us all be grateful people (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and let us also be humble people (Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3), for it is God alone who gave the greatest of all gifts (2 Corinthians 9:15). To Him give all our thanks and glory, amen (Ephesians 5:20).
-Tricia Reno