Faithful Even When It’s Not Popular

One day, at a small food stall, I met the garbage collector who works in the neighborhood where I live. Let’s call him Pak Bejo. As we ate, he shared the joys and struggles of his work.

For fifteen years, every day, Pak Bejo has collected trash from house to house, and all the neighborhood residents have stayed silent. Yet when he gets sick, or his trash cart motorbike breaks down, so that our trash is not picked up for several days, people start complaining. When they find out he is sick, only one or two people show empathy. Thankfully, Pak Bejo remains faithful in doing his work.

When we consistently do something useful or bring good to many people, it does not necessarily mean we will be noticed. We may never receive a word of thanks, much less become well known. In fact, what often happens is that the moment we make even a small mistake, people immediately complain to us.

Perhaps right now you are disappointed, angry, or want to stop doing acts of love because you feel unappreciated. You feel that everything you do is in vain. So, what should you do when this happens?

Those Who Are Faithful and Do Not Seek Human Honor

The following three Bible figures are indeed not very well known. Their life stories are recorded briefly, and their names are mentioned only once or twice in the Bible. Yet God valued and took notice of what they did. Let us learn from hearts that did not seek honor and praise from people.

1. Obadiah – Hiding One Hundred of the Lord’s Prophets (1 Kings 18:1-15)

“Has it not been reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred of the LORD’s prophets in caves, fifty in each group, and provided them with food and drink?” – 1 Kings 18:13

From childhood, Obadiah feared the Lord, and even the prophet Elijah did not dispute Obadiah’s statement about that. So why could Obadiah, who feared God, serve as the palace administrator of King Ahab, who did not fear God?

This was not a coincidence, but part of God’s plan. Because of his position in the palace, Obadiah detected Jezebel’s evil intention to wipe out the Lord’s prophets.

Somehow, Obadiah was able to save a hundred prophets and hide them in caves. He also arranged for their food supply to be met, perhaps by using his authority as palace administrator to smuggle food to them.

What did Obadiah gain by doing all that?

Nothing. If Ahab or Jezebel had found out what he had done, he surely would have been put to death. Yet even knowing the risk, Obadiah was still willing to help those prophets. No one praised Obadiah’s actions, but God knew. And He protected Obadiah and enabled him to sustain His prophets.

2. Joseph and Matthias – Continually Gathering with the Apostles (Acts 1:15-26)

“So one of the men who have constantly accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus was with us must be added to us, beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us, to become with us a witness of His resurrection.” Then they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias.” – Acts 1:21-23

After Jesus was taken up into heaven, the eleven apostles gathered together with about one hundred twenty other followers of Jesus. They intended to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had died. Joseph and Matthias were put forward as candidates because they met the qualifications given by the apostles, and in the end, Matthias was the one chosen.

That is all we know about Joseph and Matthias. Their names never appear during the time when Jesus and the twelve disciples were carrying out evangelistic ministry in various places. Yet both remained faithful in following Jesus even though people did not know them. They did it not for fame or position, but because they were faithful to their faith.

3. Onesiphorus – Faithfully Encouraging and Visiting Paul (2 Timothy 1:3-18)

“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed my heart. He was not ashamed to visit me in prison. When he was in Rome, he made every effort to look for me and did find me. May the Lord show mercy to him on that Day. And you know better than I do how much service he rendered in Ephesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:16-18

Onesiphorus and his family were followers of Jesus (2 Timothy 4:19). When Onesiphorus learned that Paul was in trouble, namely that he was in prison, he faithfully visited him. In another city and on another occasion, Onesiphorus made an effort to find and meet Paul. Not only that, he also carried out much ministry in Ephesus.

Onesiphorus’s action in openly visiting Paul in prison was certainly very risky. Many people hated Paul at that time. Yet Onesiphorus and his family continued to love Paul and serve the church, because they knew that their acts of love would not end in vain.

If many people praise or thank you for your acts of love, praise the Lord. That means you have become an extension of God’s hand to love many people. But if what you receive instead is criticism or ridicule, do not stop. Remain faithful and do your best. God sees your heart, and He will bless you in His time. Amen. -