Articles
The Thankless Job - 7.14.24 Bulletin
The Thankless Job
So we all know what it's like to do a task or a job for someone, and then they don't seem to appreciate it. Could range from something simple like holding the door open, to pointing out where something is in Walmart, or even something big like cutting grass or moving furniture at 3 AM, like all normal people do. And we know how irritating it is when whoever we're helping just barely acknowledges it or even worse, acts like its owed to them and can't even bear to give you so much as a thank you, let alone a favor in return. It's not wrong of you to be upset by that, and while we as Christians should not do things with the expectation of a reward, well, it sure is nice if your buddy gets you a Firehouse after you helped him move furniture at 3 AM. It's also not necessarily a sin of your buddy to not "Thank you", or to not return the favor. But conventional human wisdom says that if you do a favor for someone, they should pay you back a favor of equal value when asked. People who never say thank you or repay favors tend to be ostracized, and people are less willing to do things for them in the future. But the world goes on, and alas, a lot of times you have to just power through your thankless job or thankless tasks and favors.
And who could that be more applicable to than God's people throughout the ages. Unfortunately we don't live in the world of Job's 3 friends, who say that good people only get good things happen to them, and bad people only get bad things happen to them. In fact the opposite is often true. For every hero in the Bible who did something good and received an Earthly reward (that's important to clarify), we have plenty more who didn't, and indeed they went into it knowing they wouldn't get a reward. Many of the prophets come to mind, as their mission oftentimes was to preach to sinful nations of the need to repent, only for their message to be rejected at best, or for the prophets to be actively persecuted at worst. Yet it was necessary that someone bear the message to the people, because God's Will needed to be enacted. Imagine being Jeremiah and having to preach his specific message as prophet. It wasn't a particularly uplifting message and it certainly wouldn't be popular.
It is true that the Christian life is one of joy and peace, both in this life and in the next. Yet that does not mean that every moment will be filled with sunny days and easy times. One of the greatest burdens a Christian has to bear is that of being the messenger to a sinful world, and telling the need to repent. Yes, we know that "The Good News" is that anyone can be forgiven and have eternal life, but the world does not see it that way. They tend to think that Christians believe we are "Better than them", or just want everyone to think like us. Indeed, John wrote that darkness does not comprehend light (John 1:5), and most of the world would rather stay in their darkness. Some even want to put out the light rather than be exposed by it. And the further burden of a Christian is the knowledge of the world's fate. We know what awaits those who will not repent and give their lives to God, and yet we still have to preach the message, even knowing many will actively refuse to even hear it or consider it. Truly, a thankless job.
But is that any different than what Jesus did on Earth? He was the fulfillment of all the prophecies the Hebrews had long looked forward to, you'd think if anyone was waiting with a red carpet it would have been them. Yet so many times in the gospels we hear of people rejecting Jesus and His message. The attitudes of many people, then and now are summarized in John 6:60. Alien sinners as well as disciples can encounter a "Hard saying" they cannot endure, and rather than realize that God's people only want what's best for them, they cannot bear to hear it. Like in John 6, they may depart and walk no more with Him. Or in the case of sinners, they may even lash out when their hearts are pricked, like the crowd that martyred Stephen.
Yet preach we must, for this is our thankless task. Galatians 6:9 says not to grow weary while doing good. Revelation 2:10 says to be faithful until death. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 is Paul's "farewell address" so to speak, and he affirms that a crown of righteousness awaits him for having fought the good fight. It is a reality that being a Christian is often a thankless job, and not many will appreciate it. Yet we must remember that we do not strive for men's rewards, approval or accolades, but for God's. Nothing escapes His notice, and our faithful walk will be recognized and rewarded by Him.
DY
- Glad_Tidings_7.14.2024_PDF.pdf (4.07 MB)
