Sinful thanksgiving prayer

Just as only one Samaritan among ten leprous men who were cleansed came back to Jesus,

fell on his face at His feet, and gave thanks to Him (Lk. 17:16),

it seems like only one Christian out of ten is living a life of thanking God.

Although it’s God’s will for us to give thanks in in everything (1 Thess. 5:18),

It seems like we aren’t living according to His will.

Why are there so many complaints and criticisms?

Why are the voices of worries and anxieties so loud?

It seems like in our hearts there is lack of thanksgiving for forgiveness of our sins and salvation

through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3)

Shouldn’t we offer the prayer of thanksgiving to God? 

But instead of giving thanks to Him like the Samaritan whose lepers got healed,

Maybe we are now like the Pharisee who prayed this to himself,

“God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers,

or even like this tax collector” (Lk. 18:11).

Maybe we are trying to show off that we are better than other people

When we see ourselves criticizing and condemning others countless times through our words and writings.

Then, like the Pharisees, aren’t we trusting in ourselves that we are righteous,

and viewing others with contempt? (v. 9)

And without knowing this, aren’t we going up to the church every Sunday

and offering thanksgiving prayer to God?

I wonder how God sees the Pharisees’ prayer of thanksgiving.

Maybe in holy God’s perspective, our prayer of thanksgiving is sinful thanksgiving prayer?