When our good work is not rewarded and appreciated we get discouraged. And we even come to the absurd conclusion that working hard doesn’t really pay. But the Bible clearly tells us that our hard work and sincerity will not go unnoticed and unrewarded by God. Apostle Paul reminds us:
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
So as Christians, when we work or serve, we are called not to do whatever we do with the expectation of receiving any reward or appreciation but only for the glory of God. That doesn’t mean that our God will not reward us appropriately for our hard work. Our thought for reflection this morning is, “Our God Will Never Allow Us to Go Unrewarded for Our Hard Work.”
“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”
(Genesis 31:42)
Jacob explained to Laban how he had worked hard without even resting or sleeping even when the heat consumed him in the day time and the cold at the night (Genesis 31:40). When Jacob accused Laban of changing his wages ten times during the twenty years of hard work in his house, Laban did not dispute it. Jacob recognized that it was because, God was with him, that Laban did not send him empty handed. Jacob recognized the fairness of God in contrast to the unfair behaviour of Laban:
1. Jacob found His God as the only one who saw his hardship and rewarded him accordingly.
Though Laban subjected Jacob to hardship by making him work night and day without proper sleep, he did not reward him appropriately. But on the other, Jacob recognized that though he came to Paddan Aram all alone and empty handed, God had rewarded him with a big family, cattle and wealth. That’s the reason he said, “God has seen my hardship”. Do we often, ignorantly conclude that no one including God fail to see and understand our hardship?
2. Jacob found His God as the only one who saw his hard work and rewarded him accordingly.
Laban thought that it was Jacob’s responsibility to work like a slave and that it was his own right to enjoy the fruits of Jacob’s hard work. Jacob went to the extent of saying that Laban even demanded payment from him for whatever was stolen by day or night (Genesis 31:38b). But on the contrary, Jacob said,
“God has seen… the toil of my hands”
(Genesis 31:42b).
Are we discouraged that our hard work has never been recognized by those above us and around us?
Did not Apostle Paul tell us:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.”
(Colossians 3:23-24)
Let’s pray:
“Dear Lord, it is true that I get discouraged when my hardship is ignored and my hard work go unrewarded. Thank you for reminding me that you alone see my hardship and hard work. Whether I am rewarded or not, help me to work and serve with all my heart as if I am working for you. As I am serving you and not man, I know that I will receive my due reward from you one day.
In Jesus’ name,... Amen!"
Blessed weekend!