At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. – 1 Timothy 4:16-17
One of the things I’ve learned as I’ve grown older is not to expect too much from people. It’s possible to pour a good deal of energy and love into a friend or family member and see no growth or receive no gratitude for our efforts. It’s even possible that others may receive credit for the work we’ve done.
If we expect everyone to recognize and appreciate what we have done for them, we will certainly be deeply hurt. We’ll start asking ourselves: “Is this all the thanks I get?”
It’s good in those times of disappointment to look at our motives. Do we have an unholy sense of entitlement, or a passion to be seen and applauded for our efforts? Can we give freely and allow others to take responsibility for their own responses? The apostle Paul went through times in his service for the Lord when everyone forsook him. Yet his focus was on the strength that God gave him “so that the message might be preached fully” through him (2 Timothy 4:16-17).
We should never expect to gain from others what only Jesus can give. To do so is to be utterly unrealistic. Our taskis simply to give and leave the results t our Master, knowing that in time we will receive. His reward: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)
The service that we do for God
May go unpraised by men;
But when we stand before the Lord,
He will reward us then.
Work done well for Christ will receive a “well done” from Christ and never be forgotten.
