South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-30
INGRATITUDE.

INGRATITUDE.
4. Impenitens 1fen Pray for and
Receive FavOrs, but Forgot TO Give
Thanks. The Bible declares that the
prayers of the wicked are an abomina-
ton to God, but the same book also
states that God causes his sun to
shine upon the evil as we'll as upon
the good, and also justifies us in our
belief that God, under some circum-
stances, answers the prayers Of sim
ners. If he did not, then there would
be no saints, for all good men were
once in rebellion against God. The
story in our lesson, Of Jesus curing
ten men of leprOsy and that only one
turned back TO thank him for the
great work which he had done, is an
example of the sad fact that men OBJ
tain favorS from God and forget TO be
thankful. Many there are who pray
daily, either consciously or uncOn-
sciously, for the common blessings Of
life and God hears and gives them
plentiful supply, and yet they never
thank the giver Of all good for them.
Men in special emergencies pray for
Gods deliverance. and when their
prayers are answered forget all about
the good Father to whom they are
indebted. In times of sickness or
other misfortunes, sinners often prom
Use to give God their hearts, if he will
but deliver them, and after deliver
ance comes. they forget the promises
which they have made him and con-
tinue in their sins. Their apprecia
ton of favors to come is keener than
their appreciation for favors past.
2. True Penitence Produces Real
Gratitude. One would think that
when a man had been cured of the
dreadful malady of leprosy, that his
heart would have been filled with such
thankfulness which would have COM
PEELED him to return to the great ply
stefan who had cured him. and to
have poured out his heart in thanks
giving, but nine out Of the ten men
were apparently ungrateful as only
one, and he aSSamaritan, returned TO
thank the Saviour for his gracious
work. The nine unthankful ones,
however. simply manifested the in
gratitude of their impenitent natures;
their hearts were hardened with sin
and they took their blessings as
matter OF course. as sinners always do
who live on Gods bCGnties and never
give him thanks. When a man is
cured Of the insanity of sin, and comes
back TO himself his heart is filed
with gratitude to God for life and
health and all things. He gives God
| thanks for the blessings which come
TO him day by day. food, raiment,
home, health and happiness.
3. Real Gratitude for Earthly
Blessings Brings Higher Blessings.
| The Samaritan who returned and gave
Jesus thanks for a physical blessing
received from Jesus a greater bless
ing, even the forgiveness of his sins,
fer Jesus said TO him in response TO
his gratitude. Arise, go thy way: thy
faith hath made thee whole" 1t is
ever thus that when the fountain Of
I a mans heart is opened in gratitude
II is real worship of God. Thankful
ness really embraces repentance, faith
conservation and every other neces-
sary grace No man can be truly
grateful for earthly blessing, who
does not receive the appreciation Of
the heavenly Father Real gratitude
is a Christian grace, and when il Is
manifested is a proof that the grace
Of God is working in the heart from
whence it comes. Gratitude produces
love and service. as gratitude can
never come from an impenitent heart:
while love and service in turn develop
Christian character and Christian
character implies all the other Chris
I tian graces. Gratitude therefore ex-
/ pressed to God for earthly blessings
/ brings in its train every other quality
which makes US fit for the heavenly
kingdom.
y. GOu EADtEIS Us 10 henOeT
Thanks. If you will read the lesson
story you Will see how disappointed
I and hurt Jesus was because 80 per
cent of the lepers he had cured showed
no sign OF thankfulness. Alas!
/ fear even while ! devoutly hope my
fear is not we'll founded. that this is
about the per cent Of unthankful peo-
pie today. There seem to be so few
I who express gratitude TO God. or who
/ in any true way appreciate that all
I their blessings come from him. The
I Samaritan, sinner as he apparently
was. is cur example in this matter,
1 for If we want to please God and re-
I ioice his heart we must worship him
7 with praise and Thanksgiving. The
I Bible. in a great many places, makes
I thanksgiving both our duty and our
i privilege. The book of Psalms seems
/ 10 be devoted particularly, by exam
3 pie and precept. to urging people to
\ be thankful. Praise yet the Lord.
/ q give thanks unto the Lord: for he
I is good: for his mercy eEdureth for
/ ever" This is but a sample of many
thrilling passages. full of poetry and
/ emotion. urging sinners 10 give thanks
TO the Lord and 10 worship at his feet.
i IL is marvellous that people persist in
/ being thankless when thankfulness is
/ OF the nature OF, happiness A heart
/ full OF thanks stirs the whole nature
/ with feelings of holy rapture and de-
I votion.
Copyright, 1919. by F. 5 Davidsonl
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