Volume 26, Issue 6
Page 16
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Receiving Thanks
By Emily Myers October 2025
idea in the form of a story: “But which of you, having a ser- vant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may
Though God owes us nothing, His Word prom- ises that “of the Lord ye shall re- ceive the reward.” Even when we are simply doing our duty, He delights to bless and re- ward His children. So, when you feel unnoticed, un- appreciated, or taken for granted,
May our lives reflect the humility of those “unprofitable servants” who say, “We have done that which was our duty to do,” trusting that one day, when we stand before our Lord, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” - Colossians 3:17. Emily Myers and her husband, Daniel, live on a small farm in Missouri where they homeschool their seven children. Emily is a Certified Professional Midwife. Together, Emily and Daniel co-authored “Expressions of Thanksgiving,” a fam- ily devotional designed to cultivate hearts of gratitude through Scripture, song, and reflection. Daniel also illustrated the book with his original artwork.
We all want to know that what we do matters — that our efforts are noticed and appreciated. Whether at work, at home, or in ministry, the hope for a simple “thank you” is universal. Yet too often, our hard work goes unseen, and discouragement creeps in. It’s in those moments that Scripture reminds us to look beyond human praise and focus on the One who sees everything and values every act of obedience. When discussing the importance of giving thanks, we can sometimes over- look the aspect of receiving or expect- ing thanks. Yes, it is right and good to express gratitude to God and to others who have blessed us, but we must be careful not to serve just for the thanks we might receive. Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheri- tance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Everything we do — whether at home, at work, in ministry, or in every- day life — should be done for the Lord. He alone should satisfy our hearts. Liv- ing this way changes our motivation and attitude, freeing us from the need for human approval and allowing us to experience joy in obedience itself. We are called to work diligently and with joy, even when our efforts go un- noticed. Every task, no matter how small, should be done as though it were for Jesus Himself. Folding laun- dry, serving a meal, caring for children, cleaning up after others, or helping a neighbor can all become acts of wor- ship when done with a heart that seeks to honor the Lord. In Luke 17:7–10, Jesus presents this
Maybe you’ve worked hard all day, providing for your family, and instead of gratitude, you hear that it wasn’t enough. Maybe you’ve poured yourself out at home — cleaning, caring for little ones, making meals — and instead of appre- ciation, you’re met with irritation. Maybe you’ve gone out of your way to help a friend, only to have your kindness misunderstood. In those moments, your faithfulness does not go unnoticed by God. It’s easy to grow discouraged. It’s tempting to think, “Why bother?” But as followers of Christ, we’re called to a higher way. We are not to quit or lower our standard because others fail to notice. We are to do all that we do “heartily, as to the Lord,” finding our joy and satisfaction in Him rather than in human praise. James 4:17 reminds us, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Our obedience and integrity matter to God, even when no one else sees. He sees the unseen labor, the quiet sacrifice, the hidden tears, and the heart that keeps serving when it would be eas- ier to stop.
sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, ‘til I have eaten and drunken; and after- ward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprof- itable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” At first glance, this passage may sound harsh, but Jesus is teaching an important truth. It is not that the ser- vant’s work has no value, but that the servant has done nothing to place his master in debt. Likewise, we can never put God in our debt. He owes us noth- ing. Everything we have and every- thing we are already belong to Him. Understanding this truth brings humility and perspective, reminding us that our gifts and talents are ultimately His to use. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t thank others for their help — Scripture encourages gratitude — but our own motivation should not depend on whether someone notices or appreci- ates us. We are to serve faithfully, even when no one says “thank you.”
remember who you are really serving. Every unseen act of obedience, every small kindness, every faithful effort done out of love is seen by Him — and He is faithful to reward what others overlook.
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