Thankless Service

I don't know about you, but I have this deep desire to be thanked. I like to be recognized for something I do to a point where it sometimes gets in the way of why I do things. For example, there is a chore that Jason does and he happened to forget about it this past weekend, so I ended up doing it. Now the chore was in no way hard, and I didn't have a problem or an attitude while doing it, but afterwards, I felt like I deserved to be thanked. Honestly, I don't think he even realized he forgot about it and here I was fighting myself and forcing myself not to bring it up, just so he could thank me. Silly, right? But I find this true in many areas of life. I love to serve God and to serve others, but if I don't feel appreciated afterwards, I tend to get frustrated.

I think a lot of this mindset comes down to pride. It's as though I have no trouble doing something for someone, but the pride inside of me wants them to know just how lucky they are that I would go out of my way to be kind to them. I know this is horrible and it is something God is desperately working on in me, but I have a lot of pride to chip away, and maybe you do too. Do you ever want to ignore a need a person has because you know that they won't appreciate any of the work you put into it? Do you ever not want to stop by a house because you know all the person will do is complain about how hard their life is and never once ask how you're doing? As humans, we like to be the center of attention and we like everyone to know the full extent of how we serve them, which is completely contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

Check out Matthew 23. Jesus is talking to a crowd of people and he calls out the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law (a very respected group back in the day). When he warns the people not to be like them he says: "Everything they do is for people to see: They make their phylacteries long and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplace and to be called 'Rabbi' by others" (5-7). Then he goes on to say, "The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt them will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (11).

We see Jesus' heart for humility again in Luke when he observes guests at a dinner party.  

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” Luke 14:7-11.

Jesus realizes just how hard it is for us to be humble. For us to serve without any thought of recognition or reward. For us to consider others as better than ourselves. Thus he often reminds us that of a better way to live. When we serve, we need to serve as though we're serving Christ without any thought to who will notice. We are called to "work with all our hearts as though working for the Lord and not human masters" (Colossians 3:23). Sure this is meant for slaves and masters, but it applies to our service to others. 

So the next time you are called to do something for Christ, the next time you do some menial task in order to serve someone, the next time you spend time with someone who takes and takes and never gives, do it as though you are doing it for Christ. It isn't easy and it goes against our very nature, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn humility in a society that loves pride and admiration. So when you serve or give, "be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will receive no reward from your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 6:1). And it's just a guess, but I bet that a reward from God is way better than a little gratitude from people.