Proverbs 31 Challenge: Thankless Work

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

Proverbs 31:18

After five verses (Proverbs 31:12-17) detailing the virtuous woman's hard work, we get to see that it is not in vain. She works hard and works well and profits from it. She experiences first-hand the good things her efforts bring.

Have you ever felt all the hard work you put into things goes unnoticed? There's no real reward for polishing a kitchen sink, aside from the satisfaction of seeing it sparkle. Maybe you arrive home from a difficult day of work and all you have as a reward is tense muscles and a headache. Many times, the long hours you dedicate to a ministry go unnoticed. Thankfulness is not guaranteed when you take on hard work.

I don't think it was any different for the woman of Proverbs 31. She probably felt discouraged at times like we do: "What's the point of doing the bed, anyway? Its not like it really matters to anyone." She didn't let that permanently become her perspective, though, because she knew, she experienced, the good things her hard work brought.

Even though the work we do may seem to go unnoticed, it is not pointless. Think about what would happen if you didn't do the laundry, fax that paperwork, help the kids with homework, or prepare that meal ever. What would your family's, coworkers', fellow church members' lives look like if you never did any work? Just avoiding that is a huge reward!

This week, why don't we help another lady who might feel unappreciated? Lets encourage her to keep working hard all the marvelous things she does. Write her a note, send her a card, or give her a small nicely-packaged gift. It will mean the world to her to know that someone does notice all the things she does.