10 For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience. NLT

This message was preached May 25, 2003, at FBC Toulon, by Albert Harmon. See it at ToulonBaptist.com  

The other afternoon I had a talk with Irene Williamson's sons and daughters-in-law. I said what do you remember about mom. They began and talked for almost thirty minutes. It was wonderful to hear all that they remembered about her. Not things from the last few months but from the years when she was able. I am sure she is quite pleased by the impression she left.

I was going over the list of those members here who have gone on to their reward. I remember all the good things I heard about them. Many of them I myself remember their faithful service. Many had stood with this church for years. They had been faithful in the good times and in the rough times. Sometimes it is quite disturbing to look at pews where some of those saints would sit each morning. They faithfully served on boards, as Sunday School teachers and where ever they were needed with little or no applause. For some of them, when life had taken most all it could take from them and they could no longer be leaders, they were content to be followers. By their faithful attendance and prayers they supported this church till there last days.

I often wonder what the next generation will say about us. I read a book once on motivation. The man said that you should begin with your obituary. Decide what you want it to say and then live your life so that it will. I think there is a better way. What I have found is that much of what we do here goes unnoticed by most people.

The best way to begin is to do all that we do for God to see, for His honor. John 5:.44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? NKJV

God is not like people. People forget. At least they often forget the good you do. But God never forgets. That is important because in the final analysis it will only be important what God thinks and no one else.

1. God is not unfair
   1. Life is often unfair
      1. Bible writers do not dispute that.
      2. But God is not unfair.
      3. He is holy righteous, just and cannot even look on sinful living.
      4. But even when life is unfair and takes a turn fo the worse, God will still love and care about us, and ultimately He will make everything right and just.
   2. Deut 32:4 He is the Rock; his work is perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! NLT
      1. Sometimes people get mad at God when life takes a bad turn or things do not go how they had planned.
      2. But it is not God that brings on these calamities.
      3. Most often they are brought on by our own mistakes or even our own sinful behavior.
      4. You see God's work is perfect and our is not.
      5. That is why we must turn to Him and not to our own ways.
      6. If God does bring something into our lives, no matter how distasteful it might be it is just and fair for God can do nothing other than that.
2. He will not forget your hard work
   1. Nehemiah, in all his work and self sacrifice called on God to remember him and his good works.
      1. Neh 5:19 Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
      2. Neh 13:22 Remember this good deed also, O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love. NLT
   2. God rewards His servants
      1. When Calvin was banished from ungrateful Geneva, he said, "Most assuredly if I had merely served man, this would have been a poor recompense; but it is my happiness that I have served Him who never fails to reward Ills servants to the full extent of His promise." (C. H. Spurgeon.)
      2. Sometimes the work that God calls us to is difficult and long. I am reminded of an illustration by Adrian Rogers. Adrian Rogers, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, tells about the man who made his sons work in the cornfields while their peers spent the afternoon at the swimming hole. Someone scolded the father saying, "Why do you make those boys work so hard? You don't need all that corn." The wise father replied, "Sir, I'm not raising corn. I'm raising boys." -- Quoted by Marvin Hein in The Christian Leader (Nov.21, l989). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 2.
      3. We often think that God has all this work to do and why has he called us to do it. God is not concerned in the work getting done, for by His power He could do it all in a moment. He is more concerned about you as you grow into a partner with God in His work.
   3. Known unto God--One evening a gentleman was strolling along a street to pass the time. His attention was attracted by the remark of a little girl to a companion in front of a fruit store, "I wish I had an orange for ma." The gentleman saw that the children, though poorly dressed, were clean and neat, and calling them into the store, he loaded them with fruit and candies. "What's your name?" asked one of the girls. "Why do you want to know?" queried the gentleman. "I want to pray for you," was the reply. The gentleman turned to leave, scarcely daring to speak, when the little one added, "Well, it don't matter, I suppose; God will know you, anyhow." (Baxendale's Anecdotes.) (from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright (c) 2002 AGES and Biblesoft, Inc.)
   4. 1 Cor 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. NLT
3. He will remember how you have cared for others
   1. It is a continued perseverance that gets the job done
      1. A poor woman had a supply of coal laid at her door by a charitable neighbor. A very little girl came out with a small fire- shovel and began to take up a shovelful at a time and carry it to a of bin in the cellar. Someone said to the child, "Do you expect to get all that coal in with that little shovel?" She was quite confused by my question, but her answer was very striking, "Yes sir, if I work long enough." Make up for your lack of ability by abundant continuance in well-doing, and your life-work will not be trivial. The repetition of small efforts will accomplish more than the occasional use of great talents. -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990)
   2. Others
      1. That is how measures us.
      2. That is how we minister to God.
      3. In as much as you have done it to these, you have done it to me.