Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest said, “Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.”
One of the things that I have encountered, from time to time, in our life of service has been ungrateful people and how I should respond to them. On the positive side, people showing ingratitude for the help they receive and my frustration with that response causes me to examine my motivation for what I do.
Rarely has my frustration toward ungrateful people been because I thought they did not appreciate God. No, it was because I thought they did not appreciate me. Do you see the problem?
1 John 4:19 says “We love because he first loved us.”
Matthew 22:37-39 suggests that because we love God first, we cannot help but love others. God loves them through us, because we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Or should.
In other words, loving others, and the acts service associated with it, is an expression of our love for God. When we are confronted by ingratitude, since what we do is for God and not for them, although they are the benefactors, those who are ungrateful are really ungrateful toward God. Jesus cleansed 10 lepers that he happened upon as He traveled between Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He [Jesus] saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” - Luke 17:12-19
That is a gratitude rate of 10%. Do you think Jesus asked himself "Why did I heal those others guys, they did not appreciate it!" Would you be satisfied with that or would you decide it just wasn’t worth the trouble or maybe want to take it back? Those people were not worth your effort, time or “sacrifice”.
If you think that way, your focus is on you and not one the One who sent you. Don’t you suppose that God already knows what will happen? And He sent you anyway. We must not look with expectation at those He has sent us to serve, but at the One who did the sending. Be careful that you don't think that it is you that should be getting the credit for your service. Paul made it clear that we are to lay ourselves down in deference to God Who has called us and God Who has enabled us.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:1-2
The world will say "Look at you - aren't you something!" but the Spirit will say "Look at God - isn't He something!" If you crave credit for your service to others then you have a heart problem.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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