²⁹ but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. (Luke 15:29)

Have you served in a position or in ministry for a long time?

It is easy to get frustrated when we serve a role diligently and are never recognized or rewarded for our work. But I ask you, have you been paid? Have you felt the warming peace of compassion wash over you when you helped another? Have you held your position for a long time? Has your ministry remained strong over many years. Has your job provided?

Then you were recognized.

We get used to the routine of something we do and then we can learn to resent it. Not because it is bad or we are bad at it, but just because it is…well…routine. Heaven forbid someone new come along and get recognized for doing what we have for so long.

Sometimes, doing well breads a familiarity with others who trust and rely upon us, but may not make that known. However, they need us to keep doing what we are doing, fulfilling our role because of that trust and reliance.

We must guard against letting our fragile ego get in the way like the brother of the prodigal son. He had served the father well and not squandered his inheritance. But the father also never held anything back from him. The father pointed out, “all that is mine is yours” in the next verse.

You need not be given what you already possess.