The document discusses the erosion of manners in society and relates it to a Bible passage from Luke. It tells a story of the author giving change to a beggar who threw it on the ground. It compares many Christians to the nine lepers who were healed by Jesus but did not return to give thanks, unlike the Samaritan leper. It encourages Christians to be thankful for God's blessings rather than feeling entitled.

1. THANK YOU
“And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted
up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew
yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw
that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him
thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There
are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith
hath made thee whole.”
LUKE 17:12-19, KJV
Long before this current recession, long before Covid, long before Donald Trump, and before 9-11, the erosion of basic,
simple manners has chipped away at our society down to a nub of what we see today.
I ask you, when was the last time you went into a drug and/or grocery store or your local 7-11 and after paying the
cashier, they said thank you? Or how often do you see anyone demonstrating any form of appreciation when you
exercise common courtesy, like holding a door open for someone or signaling a person in a car to go first? Some people
still do it, but it’s so rare that when it does happen it’s almost like seeing the Red Sea part all over again.
A few weeks ago, while waiting for a red traffic light to turn green, a beggar approached me for some money. I reached
in and scooped up a handful of toll change and handed it to the man and said, “Sorry for the change, buddy, but it’s all
the cash I have on me.” He looked down at the change and threw it on the ground. Bewildered, I drove away. Perhaps it
may behoove the Beggars Union to require their members to place an asterisk on their signs saying, “Paper money
ONLY!”
Sadly, this is what much of the civilized world has become, a green and blue round ball of entitlement. When we
experience these situations, some of us Christians feel slighted, perhaps even perceiving it as a direct attack on our
character. But you shouldn’t feel that way. The fact is, you are a precious child of the Almighty God, the Creator of
majestic mountains and valleys, of the four winds and the deep blue sea; of the entire cosmos, and all contained within.
On the other hand, they are just fools living in a fool’s paradise.
Many of us can relate to how Jesus felt in today’s Holy Scripture. Here, we have ten men, each eaten up with leprosy.
Through tenderness, mercy and grace, Jesus grants them their deepest desire to be healed. After being cleansed, nine of
them celebrate and go their merry way without given any thought of who it was that just made them whole again. Yet,
one man gave thanks. He was a Samaritan. Now Samaritans were a mixed spiritual breed of Jews and Gentiles, bitter
rivals that had nothing to do with one another. However, this poor soul was grateful, so much so that he bowed down
with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet.
So many so-called Christians are like the nine. They ask something from our Heavenly Father. When He grants their
petitions, they lose sight of the amazing, supernatural experience they have just undergone, one that the LORD of the

2. Spirits, Himself, has visited them, hearing, and answering their cries for help. Every time I read this passage, my heart
breaks for my LORD and Saviour.
To the brethren I say, being a Christian does not make you entitled. The LORD doesn’t owe you anything. When you
pray, don’t just ask the Father to forgive you, don’t just ask for things you need or want, but also be thankful for all the
blessings, both small and great, He has given you, whether you asked for it or not.
This is the Will, and the Word, and the Way of the LORD.
Amen.