God Judges Ingratitude

Generally speaking, gratitude is seen as a pleasant gesture, a sign of good manners. However, God sees it as something far more serious—a matter of obedience and faith. Ingratitude is a spiritual rejection of God’s good grace.

William Shakespeare once wrote, “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child.” If that’s how a parent feels, imagine how a holy and benevolent God views ingratitude. Gratitude is commanded because God is worthy of it. Therefore, ingratitude is condemned because it denies His worth.

Scripture reminds us that God’s goodness is not limited to His people. He gives good gifts to all humanity—what theologians call common grace. Jesus said, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). The sun and rain sustained ancient life. Both were reminders that every person, righteous or not, depends on God’s good gifts. Therefore, everyone owes Him thanks.

Yet, not everyone gives it. 

Paul writes, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom. 1:18). Why such strong language? Because, “although they knew God… they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him” (Rom. 1:21). Gratitude is a serious matter. It’s a spiritual mirror revealing whether we acknowledge God as God. 

The truth that the unrighteous suppress, according to this passage, is the truth that creation reveals, that God exists and is worthy. When this truth is suppressed, there is no longer a need to give God worth. Giving thanks is therefore pointless. And, when thanksgiving is withheld, God’s wrath is unleashed. The point, when seen in contrast, is that the righteous are those who give thanks to God, for they recognize Him as the giver of all good gifts.

Jesus illustrated this truth through a moment of mercy. On His way to Jerusalem, He encountered ten lepers crying out for healing. 

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19

Did you notice the diagnosis behind the story? Nine of the ten lepers were ungrateful, thereby revealing their lack of faith. Put differently, gratitude toward God reveals faith. The ungrateful may enjoy God’s blessings, but only the believers bow at His feet in thanksgiving. Gratitude flows from faith, and faith flows from redemption.

Ingratitude, then, is not a neutral posture. It is rebellion disguised as indifference. To ignore the Giver is to deny His grace. True gratitude begins at the feet of mercy. Like the one healed man, faith turns us back toward Jesus, recognizing that every gift points to Him. The question isn’t whether we’ve been blessed, but whether we’ve turned back to give thanks for our blessings.

So pause today and ask: Have you returned? Have you fallen before Him in gratitude? Because in the end, gratitude is an expression of faith.

This article was adapted from the book Grateful Again by Jacob Abshire.