The Ten Percent Rule

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well. - Luke 17:11-19

There is a rule - that I made up :) which I call the 10 percent rule.  Consider the verse you just read. Notice that only one, a Samaritan, out of ten lepers came back to thank Jesus or only 10 percent was thankful for what Jesus did. Jesus asked, "Where are the other nine?" The others - well - I imagine they were thankful, but I suspect they were thankful they weren't lepers anymore and could get back to their lives before the leprosy.  Maybe relieved would be a better way to describe it.

Wherever He went, Jesus was always drawing a crowd of people who needed healing of some sort. How did they spell relief? J-E-S-U-S. They would hang out with Jesus so long as they got some physical benefit. Over the years Martie and I have helped hundreds of people facing physical needs - most related to catastrophic loss from hurricanes.  We would get them back in their homes or meet some other need and then would never hear from them again. Were they thankful - yes - but most were like the nine. Mostly relieved. We would meet some like the one from time to time, but not many. About ten percent.

The thing is - the reason we helped them was not to receive expressions of gratitude. It was because we were prompted by the Spirit to help - to cross the road to help the man in the ditch if you will.  That was a story told by Jesus to make a point. There was never any indication that the man who was helped sought the Samaritan out to thank him later. The point was the showing of mercy. Jesus asked ....

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. - Luke 10:36-37

Another example is the parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’- Matthew 25:34-40

You see - the point is one of showing mercy. And why? Because of the mercy that was shown to us. If we are one with the Father and with Jesus then our hearts will compel us to show the love of God and mercy to a world that desperately needs to see Jesus. We should not be disappointed when the 90 percent are not grateful - that is not why we did what we did. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone