Our Need for Recognition

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

I hate to tell you this, but the reality of most work environments is that expressions of appreciation and recognition are often few and far between. Have you noticed? Yet all of us need recognition.

As Christians in the marketplace, we report to a higher level of management than our co-workers, and we need to understand God's principles of recognition and reward. In Colossians 3 we read: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Now, this is terrific. God has a recognition and incentive program better than any employer could ever dream up, and if we perform our everyday work duties as unto Him, we're going to be recognized and rewarded by the Lord, whether our employer ever appreciates us or not.

So, if you feel you're not receiving the earthly rewards you deserve, rejoice to know that you can be assured of a heavenly reward. If you're doing a good job and nobody says "thank you," just remember that someday you'll get the "thank you" you deserve from a higher level of management. That is, of course, if you're working for Jesus and not for people.

In Matthew 6 Jesus said, Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Jesus said that if we desire the rewards of men, we may miss out on God's reward. If our whole motivation is to be recognized and rewarded here on earth, then that will be all the reward we'll get. And if our hearts are set on impressing people and receiving their earthly rewards, it will poison our motives and keep us from receiving God's heavenly rewards.

Jesus advises us to work for heavenly rewards, because they are worthwhile and certain. Earthly rewards we may or may not get; they are undependable and frequently distributed unfairly. I wish that were not true; I wish more managers in more companies would practice that simple management skill of "catch someone doing something right and tell them." But I know there are many of you who never hear a positive word of reinforcement from your manager. But don't be discouraged. You can receive the recognition you so dearly desire if you will do your work for Jesus.