For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints.

Whenever facing difficulty, we want to know there is a purpose for our efforts and endurance. We often ask ourselves, “Is it worth it?” The answer to this question will make or break our motivation to press on. If a difficult task has no purpose or reward, we will likely quit without much hesitation. It is the knowledge that our labor is not in vain that motivates us to press on.

Serving others is not easy. It requires time, effort, and energy. It requires looking past our own needs to the needs of others. This call to put others first leads us to wonder, “But what about me?” This passage helps us. God sees all our work: He will remember the way we serve others even if the people we serve forget. He knows our hearts and desires to bring Him glory through the way we love others. Our work is not forgotten, and our service is not done in vain. God, who provides our daily bread, will see and meet our needs as we serve Him. First Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” We were made to give glory to God and serving one another is one way to do this. God has given each of us a unique time and place to serve the people around us and point them to Him. This is not easy, but we do not do it alone. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit, surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ, and seen by God as we do this work that echoes into eternity.

• When have you struggled to serve others? What were some of the challenges you faced?
• What are some ways you could grow in serving others regularly?
• Pray and thank God for seeing your work, even when no one else does. Ask Him to equip you as you live to give Him glory.