Today I am not a happy Mommy! I am feeling a bit taken for granted in my household, the servant to husband and kids. I feel unappreciated, overlooked and my family really does not realise all I do for them. Granted, it is a house of teenagers, but I don’t buy into self-pity so…
I decided to look up what the bible has to say to slaves!
Starting at Col 3:23 Paul encourages slaves to obey their masters “doing it with a sincere heart (a desire to serve) and reverence for the Lord.”
Ouch! Then verse 24 adds: doing all (working hard at it) “as though working for the Lord, not for men” (people, my children, my husband.)
To conclude in verse 25: “since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.”
What a scriptural hiding! I am not technically a servant to my family, but I choose to serve them because I love them.
But I have not been feeling very “serving” towards them, instead I have been feeling the inconvenience of the energy I have spent; objected to the time demanded; the personal sacrifices I have made to meet their needs. I have paid the price of keeping going when I would rather just sit down; doing what I don’t feel like doing; giving attention to them when I would want time for myself; surrendering my sleep to meet another’s agenda.
All this, without a single word of sincere appreciation or a reciprocal act of serving my needs. Am I the only one that has feelings like this, Mothers?
The above verses put perspective on WHO I am actually serving, ultimately I am doing it because my real Master has asked me to, not my family. Furthermore, He reminds me, that He sees.
- He sees my heart: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 1Chron 28:9
- He sees what I do in secret service without people close to me knowing what I do: “…so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
- He rewards: “…will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” Rev 2:23
I need to change my attitude to serving my family and rather than looking for appreciation from them, look to the Lord whom I am serving.
Then on those days that it becomes a bit harder to serve, Peter gives the last bit of advice:
“If anyone serves, she should do it with the strength God provides.” 1 Peter 4:11
Read also:
I am truly grateful to the holder of this web site who
has shared this great article at at this time.
My family always say that I am wasting my time here at web, except I know I am getting experience everyday by reading such good content.
Boy oh Boy – yip was feeling the same way. But you are so right what a scriptural hiding!!! We are supposed to serve God not man, and how often do we actually think about that. Not often – I seem to remember for maybe 5 minutes and then I’m back to feeling unappreciated again, or grumpy. It’s a constant discipline to remind yourself that you should be serving the Lord your God and not man. Man will always disappoint you and will never love or accept you unconditionally, but our God will never disappoint us and will always love us so unconditionally.
This mommy slave needed to read this today! Thank you for reminding me to adjust my attitude and perspective!