I remember my mother as the most giving person in my life. She gave her life serving and giving to Dad and her four boys and even at the end of her life she would visit the ones who were shut-ins at her retirement village–BUT–when she was too old to visit, no one came to visit her!
Living a thousand miles away, I took up a fault for her against all the people who should have reached out to her. In the long run they were the losers. On earth they could have had the blessing of a relationship with a godly lady and the support of a prayer warrior. In heaven (where they are all at now) they would have had treasure laid up. I know that when mom heard the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” She did not have any regrets about having served and did not feel that it had not been worth doing even though it was not returned by the people served.
Remember the lepers who were cleansed? Only one came back to worship in gratitude. Was it worth doing the healing?
Jesus came unto his own and his own received him not—Ah! but to as many as received him to them gave he the power to become the sons of God. I would never have made a good door to door salesman because I would have been focusing on the 9 that did not buy and especially the 4 that were irritated, not on the 1 that did buy. However, I have learned and am still learning, that: a deed of kindness, witnessing about my Lord or even typing on a blog without clear evidence that anyone is listening, or running a Sunday school class for people who do not invite others and that slowly fades away, or working on a house that everyone leaves and it winds up being torn down — Is worth doing! Even if I did not get earthly recognition or have others reach out to me to help, I am learning that material things fade and well meaning people forget, but if I cast my bread upon the waters, it will return. It all seems fragile and temporary, like sand castles. Yet, like sand castles, it all adds beauty to the moment and is worth doing for it’s own sake.
Only what is done for Christ, by Christ, and with Christ will last or count. And everything done for Christ, by Christ, and with Christ will last and count forever. And, He never forgets!
Even a glass of cold water given in his name counts. I know that when I get to Heaven and He says, “Thanks for obeying and doing this or that!” I will say, “Oh? I don’t remember that!” He will say that he remembers everything and then he will show me the treasure he made out of my obedience. He loves to give good me gifts, so why not let him by going through life serving and laboring and suffering for those who do not appreciate or remember or reciprocate. He will remember and reward and it will be pressed down heaped up and running over.
Nice blog, huh? Now I need grace to go out and act in the fact. I need to rest in and delight in and value obedience and ministry and giving even when there is not earthly return or appreciation. Luke 14:12 ¶Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
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