Yesterday, the person overseeing the children’s Bible classes in our church gave me a sincere compliment over the phone. He named the specific behavior of mine that he was grateful for and told how it helped him as well as the children. I like to think that I don’t want to be noticed and want to serve in the background without needing praise. But it sure felt good to get a sincere affirmation of my service (in private). Hearing it from the person to whom I am responsible in my role as teacher made it especially meaningful.  It made me reconsider how often I affirm others in their roles. Have I missed opportunities to notice and commend others for serving? I want to get better at building others up as they work hard for the benefit of others.

Affirmation starts in my family. I do try to thank dear Husband for the many things he does for me and others. I name the specific thing he did so he knows that it was noticed, that I’m grateful, and that it makes a difference. Example: This week, near the end of a long and especially tedious (heavy holiday traffic) drive home from visiting family, I told him, as I do each time we make this trip, “I’m so grateful that you’re a good driver. I don’t take it for granted. It would be terrible to be married to a bad driver.” There are many things that my aging body can’t do, and he makes up the difference. I try to thank him for taking out the garbage, watering the dogs, going grocery shopping, maintaining our small acreage, etc.  All these acts of love deserve to be acknowledged, no matter how mundane. What acts of selfless love can you thank family members for?

In the church, sometimes we assume that others are ’doing their duty’ and forget they need encouragement. (because serving other humans can be tough!) When was the last time I thanked our pastor for the too-many-to-name ways he serves his flock? I do tell others about how grateful I am for the ways he loves our church, but I have forgotten to thank him. When was the last time I thanked the lady who comes early to make coffee and put snacks out before church? When did I commend the other teachers and the youth leaders who are investing in kids?

Now we’re getting to an issue I have. I don’t like public recognition. I’m trying to sort out why I have such an aversion to it. I think perhaps in the past, I have needed to publicly recognize people for their roles in some event, and then forgotten to name someone, which caused hurt. So it feels safer to just say thanks to all who contributed as a blanket statement and not name names. Or maybe I don’t want to be named publicly for something I did because I suspect not everyone thinks I did the job well, and I also have doubts about my performance.
I’m so glad that God is the righteous Judge. On the last day, he will decide who gets commended, and he won’t forget anyone, nor will we feel embarrassed. He sees our motivation and intentions. He remembers we are dust and nothing we do is perfect. But he rewards us for what was done out of love, no matter how imperfectly. And he won’t reward us for what was done for selfish reasons, no matter how perfectly.

I love the Bible passages where God commends flawed humans.  Abraham lied, betrayed his wife, and took matters into his own hands.  Yet, he was considered righteous!  He failed, but he was called a friend of God.  Moses was a murderer, yet God forgave him and spoke with him face to face. David was also a murderer, immoral, and proud, yet God called him a man after his own heart.  We can’t earn salvation, but we can earn God’s approval by trusting him in daily life.

Abraham

“Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:21-23

Moses

“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:6-8

David

“the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people” 1 Samuel 13:14

The whole chapter of Hebrews 11 names flawed humans who pleased God and received his approval because they had faith.  Since we see examples in the Bible of God commending flawed humans. Surely we can do the same!

Godly men in the Bible commended people. After a fierce battle, David mourned the death of his enemy, King Saul, by composing a song in honor of him and his son which he commanded should be taught to the people.  In it, David gave Saul credit for his bravery and the good economic impact Saul had on the nation. He didn’t mention Saul’s murderous jealousy.  He also deeply mourned for his loving friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son.

“Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired,
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
“Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold…
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
 you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful. “ 2 Samuel 1:23-26

Paul often commended those who served in the churches he started. He knew no church should be a one-man show because it takes many to contribute to the well-being of the group. I love that many of the people Paul commends in the last chapter of his letter to the Romans are women. There are Jews and Gentiles, government workers and slaves, wealthy and poor, men and women. A low station in life cannot prevent a person from being useful. Nor can a privileged position guarantee usefulness.

“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own, and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.” Romans 16:12-13

How to encourage others
~ Specifically name the behavior that helped you or someone else.
~ Tell how what they did made a difference in your day/life or someone else’s
~ Sincerely thank them

When has someone commended you for your service? Did it encourage you to keep on serving? How can you do that for someone else?