I struggle daily with a lack of acknowledgment for the work that I do. I seems to me that I continue to pour myself into the work I am tasked with accomplishing in the world and all I get is more of the work. That in and of itself is not the thing that I struggle with, it is the total lack of being acknowledged for doing the work. I am ignored and treated as though I am just a minion doing the work for others and when it all shakes out, the others are thanked and applauded for the work being done.
“6But he gives more grace. There it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” – James 4:6 & 10 (ESV)
These verses are why I study God’s word. In my time of down feelings based on the lack of acknowledgment, I am lifted up by the fact that my acknowledgment here in this world is of no consequence to my eternal life with God. I am rewarded in heaven for doing the work of God here in this world. I must compare myself to the completion of the work for God and not to the work of man. I have to look past this world and into my life with Christ.
Being a man is the struggle. I have a predisposition to be concerned with what is going on now. I am an emotional creature and my emotions are torn down each day as the work I do seems to go unnoticed. I have to remember that being unnoticed here in this world is not the goal. It is being noticed by God that matters. I have to concern myself with bring glory to Him as opposed to bringing glory to myself. This is the humbling of myself before God, James mentions in verse 10 above. It is not about me but about thee.
I studied and wrote that God will humble me when I get too far out of alignment with Him just as He did with Nebuchadnezzar. The choice is mine. Either humble myself or be humbled by God. As I recall, all of those that were humbled by God experienced considerable hardship. Those that humbled themselves still experienced difficult times, however they were more manageable comparably to those that were humbled by God.
As I wrap us this morning, I have to remember that grace will be given, and I will be exalted when I am humble before the Lord. It is not this world where I should be seeking acknowledgment, but in the eyes of God. This world only cares about itself and for those that are caring of others, our reward is achieved in heaven with God.
What rewards are you seeking in this world? Are you solely thinking about the acknowledgment or lack of from this world? What if we solely focused our attention to the glorification of God and left ourselves out of it, how then would things be different?
Trevor's Thoughts 