IS YOUR GOVERNOR AN INGRATE?

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now" - John  2:9-10

During the wedding at Cana, the wine suddenly finished and some servants were mandated to carry out damage control operations. Jesus told them to fetch several gallons of water into the six waterpots and thereafter draw it out to serve the Governor of the feast. They did and as soon as the Governor tasted the wine, he was so excited and began to shower praises on the bridegroom. The servants that Jesus used to brew the wine might have felt very disappointed. Instead of getting some encouraging words or rewards for their labour, they were ignored by the Governor and everyone on the high table. They must have said to themselves: "This is not fair! This Governor is an ingrate. He could not even say "thank you" to us for all our efforts in fetching several gallons of water that eventually turned to wine? He just ignored us and started talking to the bridegroom who knew nothing about what we did to get the best wine to the high table?"  

Friends, has God ever used you to supply wine to someone on the high table who in turn refused to reward or appreciate you? Do you feel bad that your efforts was not appreciated? Please note that your service is unto God and not to man (Eph 6:7). The one who send you to go fetch water knew how best to say "thank you" to you for the wine you are serving. No man can appreciate you more than God who engaged you. God is the best employer and the great rewarder of men (Heb 11:6)! The truth is your Governors/Chairman/CEO may be an ingrate. He/she may ignore your contributions. Even your Pastor, friends, colleagues, parents, business partner, siblings, children may not remember to appreciate you. But God is not unjust to forget your labour of love. As the Lord lives, your reward is on the way so please wait patiently for it. Don’t be discouraged by the action and inaction of those men/women on the high table (Jer 31:16). You stand the risk of losing your divine reward when you concentrate more on getting the applause of man. So, keep your gaze on God and God alone.

This wonderful song  reiterates the need to keep serving faithfully even when no one is willing to appreciate, reward or celebrate us:

GO, LABOR ON; SPEND, AND BE SPENT By Horatius Bonar

Go, labor on; spend, and be spent;

Thy joy to do the Father’s will;

It is the way the Master went;

Should not the servant tread it still?

Go, labor on: ’tis not for nought;

Thy earthly loss is heav’nly gain;

Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;

The Master praises, what are men?

Go, labor on; your hands are weak,

Your knees are faint, your souls cast down;

Yet falter not; the prize you seek

Is near, a kingdom and a crown.

Go, labor on while it is day,

The world’s dark night is hastening on;

Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away,

It is not thus that souls are won.

Men die in darkness at your side,

Without a hope to cheer the tomb;

Take up the torch and wave it wide,

The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.

Press on, faint not, keep watch and pray;

Be wise the erring soul to win;

Go forth into the world’s highway,

Compel the wanderer to come in.

Press on, and in thy work rejoice;

For work comes rest, the prize thus won;

Soon shalt thou hear the Master’s voice,

The midnight cry, Behold, I come!

May God grant us grace to serve faithfully till Christ returns. And when the trumpet shall sound, the reward for all our labour on earth shall be delivered to us on the golden shore in Jesus name, (Amen).

Good day and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com