“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men… for you serve the Lord Christ.” With these words, Paul redirects our motivation from human approval to divine purpose. They are especially encouraging for those who have given themselves genuinely – without agenda – to lift others, often at great personal cost.
Many have sacrificed time, energy, resources, and emotional strength to improve the lives of others, only to be met with selective memory, entitlement, belittling, or silence instead of gratitude. Scripture does not deny this reality; it reframes it. Our good works were never meant to be sustained by applause. Jesus Himself warned against doing good “to be seen by men” (Matthew 6:1), reminding us that human recognition is fragile and inconsistent.
Colossians 3:23–24 is not a call to do good for reward, but a call not to regret doing good when reward does not come from people. God sees. God remembers. God repays. Hebrews 6:10 assures us: “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.”
Christ also emphasized gratitude through the account of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19). All ten were cleansed, but only one returned to give thanks. Jesus noted this – and then did something remarkable. To the grateful one, He said, “Your faith has made you well.” The word used implies wholeness, not merely healing – restoration beyond disease, touching what had been damaged or lost. Gratitude opened the door to fullness.
Yet Christ did not withdraw healing from the ungrateful. He healed them anyway. This reveals the heart of God: goodness is not conditional on the recipient’s response. We are called to reflect that same grace. As Jesus taught, “Love your enemies, do good… and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35).
Therefore, let those who have done good without applause take courage. Do not grow weary or cynical. “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Serving others selflessly is not weakness; it is Christlikeness. And while people may forget, diminish, or misinterpret your sacrifice, God does not.
In the end, it is not men we serve, it is Christ. And from Him comes a reward that is just, eternal, and complete
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