How does God look at me vs. How do people look at me?

“Was is time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, make servants and female servants? “ 2- Kings 5:26

These words were spoken by Elisha to Gehazi when Gehazi decided to make some money off of the miracles performed by God (Naaman’s healing). Elisha did not accept the gifts and gold from Naaman even when Naaman asked him again and again to accept these gifts. By rejecting these riches Elisha showed that this miracle was the work of the One and only God and not by his own powers.

But why didn’t he take the gifts anyway? He could’ve given the money and clothes to poor people that needed them… Why does Elisha care what people think or how they look at him? One thing I know is that Elisha’s actions fall in line with the will of God; If God wanted for Elisha to accept these gifts then Elisha would have done just that. On the other hand it is possible that through this Gehazi was tested by God, maybe at this moment God was working on Gehazi’s heart.

The point is that Elisha didn’t accept the earthly riches for something that God did, he didn’t need glory and fame, his treasure was that God was with him.

While doing good works it seems fair for us to receive some kind of payment in return, some kind of appreciation. It’s easy to start thinking that I deserve some recognition and a little bit of fame for what I am doing. Then we start thinking well now I want to make some money off of the works of God, I want to make my name known. Scripture tells us “But for those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1-Timothy 6:9-10

Sometimes when we do good  works (evangelizing, witnessing to people, helping people out) you see that people don’t really notice you, and thoughts start forming “Why am I even doing this when no one cares and no one appreciates me for what I do?”

Well...We are a part of a big picture and each and every one of us has his or her own role, we add to one another; we cannot compare one work like preaching and being a pastor to praying for someone and say one is more important than the other or one is much more valuable in God’s eyes than the other. God doesn’t give more than we can handle, so when we do the work that we do either it’s volunteering in homeless shelter and witnessing or just simply praying behind closed doors for someone, we need to remember that it’s not important what people see or what they appreciate it’s important to know that we do the will of God and that God appreciates us. In the end when you realize how much Jesus did for you and me it’s hard to complain and whine how much people don’t care about us and what we do.

If we do something let’s do it like we’re doing it for Jesus, and lets not take it personal when people don’t say thank you. Scripture tells us that people persecuted Jesus and rejected Him and that same thing will happen to us, so let’s not wait for something in return for our works, and let’s not be surprised when people reject us and exclude us from their circle of friends; but let’s rejoice that we have the opportunity to give thanks to the Lord by doing His will in our lives.