In his commentary on the book of Colossians, Warren Wiersbe tells the story of a ship named the “Lady Elgin” that ran aground on the shore of Lake Michigan on September 8, 1860. A young ministerial student named Edward Spencer witnessed this from land.
Without hesitation, he plunged himself time and again into the frigid waters, eventually pulling seventeen desperate passengers from what would have otherwise been certain death.
But that heroic action was not without cost. Repeatedly plunging into the icy lake permanently damaged the young Spencer’s health. Sadly, years later, at Spencer’s own funeral, it was noted that not one of those seventeen people snatched from death that day ever bothered to contact him and say, “Thank you!”
Commenting on this story, Steve Arterburn over at www.newlife.com observes:
“We live in a day and age where too many people are convinced that they are entitled. Consequently, thankfulness seems a lost - nearly extinct - art. Yet while culture hasn’t helped us in this department, the problem’s much deeper. It’s rooted in our fallen hearts.”
In light of these things, who do you need to take the time to say thank you to this Thanksgiving? If we would be honest, our list may grow quite lengthy. But even if that happens, let us not fail to include God Himself on that list! For He has done more for us than anyone!
PRIMARY SOURCE: Warren Wiersbe Be Complete (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008), pp. 52-53.
ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT: https://books.google.com/books?id=MrmtgX42ZPgC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=warren+wiersbe+edward+spencer&source=bl&ots=O_7NMc8vTy&sig=bts74id1yxH_pmkU0-8YXd1bRwU&hl=en&
sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEp-LN483XAhVI6iYKHeEjCr0Q6AEIQzAE#v=onepage&q
=warren%20wiersbe%20edward%20spencer&f=false.
SEE ALSO: https://newlife.com/edward-spencer-unsung-hero/.
Without hesitation, he plunged himself time and again into the frigid waters, eventually pulling seventeen desperate passengers from what would have otherwise been certain death.
But that heroic action was not without cost. Repeatedly plunging into the icy lake permanently damaged the young Spencer’s health. Sadly, years later, at Spencer’s own funeral, it was noted that not one of those seventeen people snatched from death that day ever bothered to contact him and say, “Thank you!”
Commenting on this story, Steve Arterburn over at www.newlife.com observes:
“We live in a day and age where too many people are convinced that they are entitled. Consequently, thankfulness seems a lost - nearly extinct - art. Yet while culture hasn’t helped us in this department, the problem’s much deeper. It’s rooted in our fallen hearts.”
In light of these things, who do you need to take the time to say thank you to this Thanksgiving? If we would be honest, our list may grow quite lengthy. But even if that happens, let us not fail to include God Himself on that list! For He has done more for us than anyone!
PRIMARY SOURCE: Warren Wiersbe Be Complete (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008), pp. 52-53.
ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT: https://books.google.com/books?id=MrmtgX42ZPgC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=warren+wiersbe+edward+spencer&source=bl&ots=O_7NMc8vTy&sig=bts74id1yxH_pmkU0-8YXd1bRwU&hl=en&
sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEp-LN483XAhVI6iYKHeEjCr0Q6AEIQzAE#v=onepage&q
=warren%20wiersbe%20edward%20spencer&f=false.
SEE ALSO: https://newlife.com/edward-spencer-unsung-hero/.