6 Ungrateful People in the Bible and What They Teach Us about Thankfulness

We should start at the beginning. Adam and Eve lived in the perfect paradise of Eden, surrounded by everything they could ever need. God had given them dominion over all creation, and they enjoyed intimate fellowship with him. Despite the abundance of blessings, they allowed the serpent to tempt them with the one thing God had forbidden: eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent used the lie that God withheld something good from them. 

Rather than focusing on the abundance they had received, Adam and Eve chose to believe they needed more. They disobeyed God, and their ungratefulness brought a devastating consequence, not only for them but for all humanity. Their choice led to sin entering the world, leading to death and separation from God. 

Their story reminds us of the dangers of ingratitude. Instead of trusting God and being thankful, they sought what wasn’t theirs to have: the standard of morality. Only God can bear that. Their ungratefulness brought brokenness into the world. From this, we should learn the importance of contentment and gratitude. Focusing on what we lack fosters disobedience and despair, while gratitude for his blessings creates trust, peace, and life.

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The ingratitude continued with Adam and Eve’s children. Cain, their firstborn son, presented an offering to God, but the Lord didn’t accept it because of Cain’s heart. In God’s love, he corrected Cain, but Cain didn’t humbly accept it or choose to be thankful for the chance to change. Cain decided to be angry and resentful. God warned him to exercise self-control, saying that sin crouched at his door, but Cain ignored the warning. Cain allowed bitterness to grow, especially toward his brother, Abel, who pleased God with his offering. 

His anger led him to a horrible choice. He lured his brother Abel into the field and killed him. Cain’s ungrateful heart, unwilling to accept God’s rebuke, evolved into violence, jealousy, and murder. This resulted in Abel’s death and Cain’s separation from his family, as he was cursed to walk the earth. 

We all need correction, and God’s love convicts and leads us to righteousness when we veer off the true path. Cain’s story becomes a tragic example of how failing to recognize God’s wisdom and grace leads to disaster. We must learn to view God’s correction as a gift, saving us from destruction and curses, and react with humility and gratitude when faced with the Father’s discipline. Let us embrace God’s guidance, which always aims to lead us to a better relationship with him and others.

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The Israelites experienced firsthand God’s deliverance from Egyptian slavery. He parted the Red Sea, provided guidance through a pillar of cloud and fire, and miraculously gave them food from heaven — manna — each day. God did this for no other nation. Despite all these blessings, the Israelites complained. They grumbled about the manna, longing for the food they had in Egypt and doubted God’s ability to care for them. 

They had opportunities to be thankful for their freedom and God’s daily provision. Instead, they allowed their discontent to grow. Their constant complaints reflected a lack of faith and gratitude. When God brought them to the edge of the Promised Land, they chose to listen to their fear of giants, rather than trust his power and plan. God declared that their generation wouldn’t enter the Promised Land; they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until a new generation rose in their place. 

The Israelites’ story teaches how ingratitude can keep us from God’s best. Though God had proven his faithfulness, they focused on what they lacked. Their discontent led to rebellion and unbelief, costing them the Promised Land. The same can be true for us. We should strive to maintain gratitude in difficult times, praising him for his miraculous deliverance, salvation, and provision, or we might lose the amazing blessings he has prepared for us.

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In the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus illustrates the dangers of an ungrateful and unforgiving heart. 

A servant owed his master a ridiculously enormous debt — one he could never repay. Moved by compassion, the master forgave the entire debt, releasing the servant from the burden and consequence. However, the servant didn’t respond with gratitude or show mercy to others. He acted selfishly. 

Shortly after being forgiven by the master, the servant sought out a fellow servant who owed him a small amount. Rather than showing the same mercy he had received, he grabbed the man, demanded payment, and threw him into prison when he couldn’t pay him back (a common consequence in the ancient world). His actions showed his lack of compassion, especially considering his own debt being forgiven. When the master learned of this, he reinstated the original ridiculous debt, casting him into prison until the impossible debt was paid. 

Jesus’ parable teaches us the importance of mercy and the dangers of not being thankful for what God has done. Instead of allowing the master’s generosity to change his heart, the man in the parable remained unforgiving and cruel, and it led to his own downfall. For us, God’s undeserved mercy regarding our own massive sin debt should lead us to praise and thank him. Further, that thankfulness should inspire us to forgive and show compassion to others, just as Jesus forgave us.

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Luke 17:12-19 records an event where Jesus encounters ten leprous men, all in desperate need of healing. Leprosy was incurable in those days, a death sentence, and the community exiled lepers so they wouldn’t spread the awful disease. These ten lepers call out to Jesus for mercy, and Jesus has compassion on them, instructing them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they obey and go, all ten receive miraculous healing. But only one of them, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks to Jesus, falling at his feet. The other nine leave without acknowledging Christ or offering him thanks.

The nine healed lepers experienced a life-changing miracle — healed from a deadly and gruesome disease and allowed back into society. Yet they failed to recognize the true source of the blessing, Jesus Christ. After such an amazing gift, they continued on their own way, missing the opportunity to express gratitude to Jesus.

God has saved us, healed us in many ways, and given us miraculous things. When we receive blessings without acknowledging the giver, we become spiritually blind. God’s blessings are meant to bring us closer to him, not to continue on our own path and do our own thing. Gratitude opens our eyes to more of God’s work in our lives and strengthens our relationship with him.

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The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) approached Jesus with a sincere question. “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus knew his heart and told him to keep the commandments. The man claimed he had done so and still felt he lacked something. Jesus understood the hold wealth had on the young man and called him to a Kingdom challenge — sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. Christ invited him to life and true riches, being saved and living free from the bondage of material things. 

The young man could have been thankful for this answer, trusting in God’s provision even if he gave it all away. Instead, the young ruler walked away sad. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of his wealth; it had become his security instead of God. Jesus gave him a chance to find security in God and use his money to bring blessings to others. But the rich young ruler missed this chance. 

Trusting in material wealth brings anxiety. Wealth can be stolen or pass away. It brings us no security. Our material riches can blind us to the greater and longer lasting rewards in God and heaven. When we seek first the Kingdom, God will provide all we need (Matthew 6:33), a true security since God is always faithful. And when we give to those in need, Proverbs 28:27 tells us God will make sure we never lack. Jesus gives us the same opportunity he gave the rich young ruler, to use our worldly goods to bless others and find real security and salvation. Let’s be thankful for God’s continued blessings and his leading to bring relief to the poor, which reveals the gospel. 

Peace.

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