“T he Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15 NIV
Years ago, a man walked into my office and asked if I could help him. He said he hadn’t eaten in two days. I told him I didn’t have any cash on me, but I could take him out to lunch. As we ate, he told me about his troubles. He had lost his job and his wallet. He had only the clothes on his back. So I said I’d help him out. I had to take him to the next city over to the county offices and get him squared away there. Then it was off to the grocery store to get him some food. Finally, we went to a town in the other direction to hit up the Clothes Closet to get him items to wear.
It was late in the afternoon by the time we started driving back. The more time we spent together, the less he talked, until he just sat in the passenger seat with a scowl on his face. Finally, he turned to me and said, “Well, are you going to help me or not?” I wanted to shove him out of the car – while we were still moving!
I thought, “What an ungrateful jerk!” I’d spent my whole day and quite a few of my own dollars helping him. And he wasn’t the least bit thankful. In fact, he was upset with me. I dropped him off and drove home. And the more I thought about it, the madder I got. Until the Holy Spirit said to me, “Did you do it for him or for the thanks?” If I did it for him (and for Jesus), then I’d accomplished my purpose, and I could take satisfaction in knowing the Lord’s blessing – “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If I were doing it for the thanks, then I’d never be satisfied. Because, (often) as the saying goes, “No good deed goes unpunished.”
People are going to be jerks sometimes. We will not always get the thanks and the recognition we desire for the good things we’ve done. Do good anyway. Not for the thanks, but for Jesus. Only one in ten returned to thank him. He healed them anyway.
Pastor Mark