HOW THE WORLD REWARDS SERVICE
Genesis 39:19-20 When his master heard the story his wife
told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with
anger. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the
king's prisoners were confined.
Losing his good reputation and being
thrown in prison was certainly Joseph’s worst hardship. What disgraceful wages
he received for his years of faithful service! His impeccable character and
hard work were rewarded with punishment and a ruined reputation. We serve,
teach, counsel, comfort, and do what God tells us to do. For the most part, we
do this for undeserving people from whom we get nothing in return except hatred,
envy, and suffering. It seems that our lives are wasted on being kind to people
who don’t appreciate it.
Don’t ever expect the world to
acknowledge or reward your faithfulness and hard work. The opposite often
happens, as Joseph’s life shows. Therefore, make sure that you direct your
service and life elsewhere. Don’t look for favor and kindness from the world.
Its favor can quickly turn into furious anger.
If you are called as a pastor or
teacher, or if you are in some other position, set this goal for yourself: I
will do my job faithfully without expecting any reward from the people I serve.
I won’t assume that they will be grateful to me. Rather, I will bless others
the same way my heavenly Father hands out his blessings. He gives money,
talents, peace, and health even to the most ungrateful and evil people. I will
remember Christ’s command, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is
perfect” (Matthew 5:48). This means that we must serve people who are wicked,
undeserving, and ungrateful. A few will acknowledge our service and thank us.
But the others might even threaten our lives. Joseph’s example shows us what
reward we can expect from the world for even the greatest of kindness – being
tied up and thrown in prison.
Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional by Martin Luther. May
15.