Thanksgiving is a time to show our gratefulness towards God who has, though we are not worthy, provided us with all the necessary things to survive. Throughout the year He has blessed us with clothing, food, homes and jobs for which we need to show our appreciation. And while God calls us to take a leap of faith and leave everything behind; that is mother, father, sister brothers, wives (Lk14:26), he promises us that we do not have to worry because he will provide those things a hundredfold (Mk10:28-30). But, while we are reminded that God supplies all our needs and gives us reasons to be thankful, there are things that we are not so willing to release to him. Things that we hide throughout life that encompass a sense of selfishness for which we will not show any appreciation towards God, we will manifest only until we decide.
Luke 4:26-27 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
Jesus tells these religious leaders that a prophet is not with honor in his own town, when he is addressing how difficult it is for those who love money to enter into God’s kingdom. It does not matter one’s economic status any person can enter into God’s kingdom, as long as the love for money is not prioritized in that person’s life. God sent Naaman the leprod to Elisha be healed. Naaman was the captain of the Syrian army even though he was plagued with leprozy. He along with his army invaded Israel and took captive many people, and for himself took a young girl as a servant to his home. In order for Naaman to lead the army he needed to cover his entire body so that his leprosy would not be seen. This young girl understood that God uses his prophets in might ways to heal, and so she was not shy to recommending Elisha to heal her master (2Kgs5:3). Naaman requested permission from the king to go and see Elisha, and when he went to see him he told him to just wash in the Jordan 7 times and he would be healed(2kgs5:10-11). Naaman did as Elisha told him and was cleansed of his leprozy. He returned to Elisha and was so grateful that he did not have to wear his mask, because he was cleansed that he wanted to bless him with a gift(2Kgs5:15-16). But, Elisha did not want the gift that Naaman brought to him, because all that God wanted was Naaman’s heart. Naaman was released from his mask, and no longer that thing that plagued him under the mask; leprosy, was going to be present. So, thanksgiving is about really giving God thanks for the things that he has set us free from, and not just for the add on blessing he provides.