It’s easy to forget that this world isn’t our home, that we’re going to spend eternity with Christ in a home specially prepared for us, and that when we get to heaven we’ll be rewarded for how well we fulfilled our God-given assignment here on earth. Here are three things we need to keep in mind. 1) Our greatest reward will be in heaven, not on earth. There are earthly rewards (have a look at Mark 10:29-30), but God reserves His greatest blessings for the day when each person’s ‘work will be shown for what it is’ and they ‘will receive a reward’ (1 Corinthians 3:13-14 NIV). It’s our service now that determines our status then, so let’s always give God our best. 2) Our reward will be based on quality, not quantity. We are impressed with size and status, but God is moved by sincerity. When He rewards us, it will be based on what we did with what we had, and the ‘heart’ we put into it. 3) Our reward may be delayed, but it will never be denied. When we’ve done what was needed, yet we were ignored and misunderstood, we need to remember that our ‘labour is not in vain.’ When we’ve done the right thing but haven’t received credit or acknowledgement, we need to remember that our ‘labour is not in vain.’ When we’ve served, given, and sacrificed, then willingly stepped aside so God would get all the glory, we need to remember that our ‘labour is not in vain.’ In the words of Jesus: ‘Your father, who sees everything, will reward you’ (Matthew 6:4 NLT).

What Now?

The next time you do something that isn’t acknowledged by others, say to yourself: ‘My labour is not in vain.’