How do we know when we’ve made a difference in someone else’s life? I mean if there’s no one to thank you, how do you know that you were helpful in your actions?
Gratitude can be an immensely powerful force, one that drives many of us to serve God knowing we are contributing to His perfect plan. On the other hand the absence of gratitude has proven to have opposite effects. This is where the holy spirit comes in to reinforce our faith and help us continue to serve the Lord through others despite of the lack of obvious signs of gratitude.
I was moved earlier this week when a friend of this Ministry told me I had saved her life. Without knowing it, I had been helping her through the most difficult times she had even encountered. A friendly voice, a few bible verses, and occasional online chats was all that were needed to give this person hope and prevent her from committing suicide.
“You’ll never know how much you helped me” she said, and followed with “I am eternally thankful for your friendship and for this Ministry”.
I’m sure you can imagine how meaningful this moment was in my life.
But what if she had never told me how thankful she was? Or never mentioned I saved her from taking her own life? How would I know? What about those wonderful feelings of gratitude I am filled with and for her reaching out and giving me the opportunity to help?
The answer is obvious: God knows.
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)
Don’t help someone expecting gratitude, help them because you want to please God. He will take notice and reward you accordingly. Notice I wrote ‘accordingly’ rather than ‘immediately’? God is almighty and knows the best time to reward us, therefore put your trust in Him so you may rejoice with Christ in Heaven.
“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35)
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9)
I challenge you to become more like Jesus this week and serve God through the people that surround you in an attempt to please God. Think of it as a long term investment, one that will always payback ten folds… Start now!
Let’s pray!
Father God;
We thank you for our lives
We praise you Lord for giving us free will
To serve you through Ministry
Helping others to please you and honor you.
God we pray you will put us to the test
And surround us with opportunity
To fulfill your plan for our lives
And get to enjoy the fruit of our efforts.
We ask you to continue looking after us,
Our families, friends and those who seek you,
And provide for us like only you can.
God we thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
