Many moons ago, when Noah was a lad, I lived in a town which boasted a municipal putting green. This green was popular with groups of locals forming teams, leagues, and individual events. The three main events were the Division 1 (yes, there were three leagues) team event, the individual championship, and the victor ladorum or victrix ladorum, for the overall male or female champion.
All this activity took a lot of organising, and most of the work fell on the secretary (Kevin) - a bit like Congregational Churches. Anyway, Kevin was a robust bloke who you approached with some trepidation. One day I plucked-up the courage to thank him for all the demanding work he had done last season, and his reaction amazed me. He was shaking and virtually in tears. He explained, “Despite my many years ‘working’ for the putting leagues, and individual competitions you are the first person to say thank you.”
Just two words, but they can be so important in the life of a church, especially in building up one another.
You might think that this would never happen in a Christian context and certainly not in a Congregational setting. Well, I remember thanking one of the leaders at a GIFT course, and they gave a similar response to Kevin. I thanked another Congregationalist for their regular email communication, and again, I received a similar response to Kevin’s. Sadly, I have more examples.
Luke records what Jesus expects:
Jesus heals ten men with leprosy
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’
When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’
Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)
I find it interesting that the man who said thank you was a Samaritan. Remember the other story about a good Samaritan? May we be like the leper in this parable and remember to give thanks and to encourage one another as we do so.
Prayer
Father, help us to remember to say thank you as we seek to acknowledge the helpful work of others. Help us to support one another and build our faith together for your glory. Thank you, for all that you have done for us, are doing for us and what you will do in time to come. Amen
Michael Rolton