Esther (Greek) 2:19-23: a reflection

19Meanwhile, Mordecai served in the courtyard. 20Now Esther had not revealed her country, for so Mordecai commanded her, to fear God, and perform his commandments, as when she was with him. Esther didn’t change her manner of life. 21Two chamberlains of the king, the chiefs of the body-guard, were grieved, because Mordecai was promoted; and they sought to kill King Ahasuerus. 22And the matter was discovered by Mordecai, and he made it known to Esther, and she declared to the king the matter of the conspiracy. 23And the king examined the two chamberlains and hanged them. Then the king gave orders to make a note for a memorial in the royal library of the goodwill shown by Mordecai, as a commendation.

Mordecai, sitting at the king's gate, uncovers a plot by two of the king's officials to assassinate him. He reports it through Esther, the plot is foiled, and the king's life is saved. It is recorded in the royal records, but at the time Mordecai receives no reward or recognition for the good he had done. He did right, saving the king's life, and it went, for the moment, unrewarded and unacknowledged, though it was written down and would matter later.

Notice that Mordecai did good, saved the king's life, and received no immediate reward or recognition. He acted rightly, uncovering and reporting the plot; but at the time, no honor came to him for it. His good deed went, for the moment, unrewarded, unacknowledged, seemingly forgotten. Yet it was recorded, written down in the royal records; and later, at the right time, it would be remembered and rewarded. The good he did was not truly forgotten, though it seemed so at the time.

That is worth remembering when the good we do goes unrewarded or unrecognized. We can do right, help others, act faithfully, and receive no thanks, no reward, no recognition; and it can seem our good deeds are forgotten. But Mordecai's good deed, though unrewarded at the time, was recorded, and remembered later. And whatever good we do, though it may go unrecognized by people, is not forgotten by God, who sees and records every good deed, and will reward it in his time. Do not be discouraged when the good you do goes unrewarded or unrecognized; do right anyway, whether or not it is acknowledged. Mordecai's unrewarded good deed was recorded and remembered; and your good deeds, though unrecognized by people, are seen and remembered by God, who will reward them in his time. Do good faithfully, even when it goes unrewarded, trusting that God sees and remembers, and will reward in his time what people overlook.

Lord, Mordecai, sitting at the king's gate, uncovered a plot to assassinate the king, reported it, and saved the king's life; but at the time he received no reward or recognition, though it was recorded and would matter later. Help me remember that when the good I do goes unrewarded or unrecognized. I can do right, help others, act faithfully, and receive no thanks, no reward, no recognition; and it can seem my good deeds are forgotten. But Mordecai's good deed, though unrewarded at the time, was recorded, and remembered later. And whatever good I do, though it may go unrecognized by people, is not forgotten by you, who see and record every good deed, and will reward it in your time. Keep me from being discouraged when the good I do goes unrewarded or unrecognized; help me do right anyway, whether or not it is acknowledged. Mordecai's unrewarded good deed was recorded and remembered; and my good deeds, though unrecognized by people, are seen and remembered by you, Lord, who will reward them in your time. Help me do good faithfully, even when it goes unrewarded, trusting that you see and remember, and will reward in your time what people overlook.