RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-09-04	I Feel Unappreciated, How Should I Respond?
		How should we respond when we are unappreciated? We want to be thanked and our efforts valued. Instead of telling us to get used to not being appreciated, God gives us incredible promises. God tells us we may be appreciated in ways we may never have expected. Mat 6:4  that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. It is a God issue that will keep you smiling, and hopeful when no one says, “Thank you”. You can bring more glory to your God by pressing on in thankless love than you can by any other means. We need to remain conscious of God in everything we do. We are sinners. We do bad things. They will be covered in the cross. But we also do good things. God is not unjust to overlook your good deeds (He.6:10). Heb 6:10  For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Every believer does good things, and God remembers them all. It does not matter if no one here on earth notices or says something. It doesn't matter who you are as a believer, God will reward you for the good you do. We need to remember the most important audience to have is God Himself. Maybe we need to pray for grace because of our own self-pity. The hurt that you experience, maybe not so much when you are ignored, but the good that you do comes back in your face. It is twisted. You are persecuted. Someone lies about you at work and you lose your job. And it is totally unjust. Maybe you confide in someone and bear your soul, and they turn it against you. They reject you (Ro.12:19-21). Rom 12:19  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. Rom 12:20  Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." Rom 12:21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. This is a God issue. Do you trust God for justice in your life? How do you go on when life is just not fair? The answer is God who sees and remembers all the good you have done, and all the unjust abuse you have received. Remember God. Be conscious of God. Trust God. God will reward you for all the right things you have done, when nobody else knows them. God will avenge you for all the wrong things done against you. If you learn to trust God for justice in your life, you can be done with self-pity. Please remember to put God back into the equation for life's struggles. God is the One who sees in secret, and rewards you openly. Mat 11:28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mat 11:30  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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