But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. —Esther 2:22
Can you do something good or worthwhile and keep quiet about it? What if you do something heroic, sacrificial, or valiant, and nobody notices? What if someone does know about it, but even he or she says or does nothing to ensure you get sufficient commendation? It may “get your goat” or hurt you deeply. But can you hold your peace and control your tongue?
Can you be content with the knowledge “God knows”? In other words, would His knowledge of what you did be enough for you? Or do you say to yourself, I know God knows, but surely I deserve to have someone around me to be aware of what I did? I sympathize with you if that is your thinking. I’ve been there a thousand times, and it hurts.
But this is precisely where we show how much God’s esteem means. What if God says that you cannot have it both ways, that you have to choose between knowing He knows and having the admiration of people? Sometimes we can have it both ways, providing we made the choice for His glory. What if you have to wait until you get to heaven before people have the true picture; is that OK with you? If so, you’re there; that is the goal you and I must reach: the willingness to wait until we get to heaven to get proper recognition.
Excerpted from Pure Joy (Charisma House, 2006).
