Apathy: When Loyalty Seems Futile

Hello all, and again a special welcome to our brothers and sisters joining us this morning from His Sheep Church. We are delighted you are here.

If you’re joining us for the first time, let me explain how we do things here at Trinity. We believe the Bible is God's authoritative word, containing everything we need to know Him and live faithfully for Him. This conviction drives our commitment to handle Scripture with care and responsibility.

Our approach is intentionally straightforward: we usually work through a book of the Bible, or a section of a book, verse by verse. We want to understand what God's word meant to its original audience, identify the timeless truths it contains, and then apply those truths to our lives today.

To equip you along the way, we provide for free these sermon-aligned study guides called Discovery Notes. You'll find them on our website, church app, and at the carousel directly behind you. These guides are designed to enrich your personal Bible study throughout the week, helping you dig deeper into the same passages we'll explore together.

On Sunday, you'll hear me or one of our other teachers expound on the biblical text. Then, immediately following my sermon, we'll dismiss to what we call Discovery Groups. These are highly interactive learning environments intended to reinforce what you have already heard or discovered on your own. Each group is led in an interactive discussion through the Discovery Notes by one of our experienced communicators, typically an elder. We currently have two groups that meet just on the other side of these dividers. This have proven to be a very popular format, so make sure you join us. You won’t regret it. You can sit and just listen to the discussion or jump right in. Again, we are so glad you’re here.

Over the last few weeks most of you have been studying along with us through the Old Testament book of Malachi. Today, we are in part seven of an eight part series we’re calling …

Overcoming Spiritual Apathy.

As a reminder, the Book of Malachi was written about 100 years after the Israelites returned from Babylonian exile—around 430 B.C. During this period, the Jewish people were living back in Jerusalem, the temple had been rebuilt, but the nation was experiencing disappointment, poverty, and spiritual decline. Hopes for restoration and the messianic blessings long promised had not been fulfilled, and the people’s devotion to God was growing lax.

God commissions Malachi to bring his people back from their spiritual apathy.

In the series, Malachi gives us practical solutions on how to respond to -When Our Love for God Feels Distant, When Worship Feels Routine, When Privilege Turns Complacent, When Promises Don't Matter, When Justice Seems Absent, and When Giving Feels Optional. Today we discover practical solutions on how to respond: When Loyalty Seems Futile.

[Title Slide]Pray with me…

There's a fascinating study conducted by Harvard University that tracked teachers over a thirty-year period, looking at which ones had the greatest long-term impact on their students' lives. The researchers discovered something surprising: the teachers who were rated highest by students at the end of each school year—the ones who got the best evaluations, the most appreciation, the most immediate recognition—weren't necessarily the ones who had the most lasting influence.

Instead, many of the teachers who made the deepest impact were the ones who had been strict about homework, who pushed students to work harder, and who maintained high standards even when students complained. These teachers reported that they often ended school years feeling unappreciated, wondering if they'd made any difference at all.

[Pause, shift to personal]

I experienced this firsthand when I went to college later in life. I had an English II teacher named Ms. Bennett who was extremely demanding, especially toward the women in her class.

She reminded me of the cranky lady in Monsters, Inc. named Roz. She was the key master and administrator for Scare Floor F. She'had that gravelly voice, and that famous line: “I’m watching you, Wazowski. Always watching.”

Here’s what Roz looks like:At the beginning of the semester, we had about thirty students. By the end, we had dwindled down to about seven—almost all of us men. It was one of the hardest classes I had ever faced.

I'm embarrassed to admit that at the time, I probably thought she was too harsh. Like most students, I measured her effectiveness by how I felt walking out of her classroom each day. And most days, I felt exhausted, challenged, and somewhat beaten down.

But years later, when I was struggling through the rigorous demands of Dallas Seminary, something occurred to me. The academic discipline Ms. Bennett had drilled into me—the careful analysis of written texts, the precision in writing, her refusal to accept mediocre work—was exactly what I needed for seminary and ministry. I realized that God used her to prepar me for challenges I didn't even know were coming.

So I drove back to the college and found her office. She looked up and said ‘Yeah, what do you want”?

I told her how much her demanding standards had meant to my life and ministry. I'll never forget the look on her face—I don't think anyone had ever come back to thank her before. She was visibly shaken by it.

[Title Slide]

That study concluded with this observation: "The most meaningful work often feels the most futile while you're doing it." Ms. Bennett had been faithful to her calling as a teacher, maintaining high standards even when students dropped out, even when no one thanked her, even when she probably wondered if she was making any difference at all.

How often is that true in your walk with God? How often does your faithfulness feel futile simply because you can't see the results yet?

Let me get specific about what this looks like in real life.

Maybe you're single and staying celibate, waiting for godly marriage, while your friends who sleep around seem to find love faster.

Maybe you're staying in a difficult marriage, working through problems, while your divorced friends seem happier in their new relationships.

Maybe you're waiting for someone who shares your values while watching non-Christians find seemingly perfect relationships.

Maybe you're homeschooling or paying for Christian education while public school families have more money for vacations and activities.

Maybe you're turning down job opportunities to be at your kids' events while absent fathers seem to have more successful careers.

Maybe you're faithfully giving while struggling to pay bills, watching non-givers afford luxury cars and vacation homes.

Maybe you're supporting missions and ministries while having to decline family vacations due to budget constraints. Maybe you're driving an old car and living modestly while materialistic neighbors constantly upgrade and seem happier.

Maybe you're battling cancer despite years of clean living while your chain-smoking, drinking friends stays healthy.

Maybe you're being marginalized or even called "hateful" for believing in traditional marriage while your progressive friends are celebrated.

Maybe you're being vilified for protecting life while abortion supporters are praised as heroes. Maybe you're being labeled "bigoted" for biblical views while secular viewpoints are considered enlightened.

Maybe you've stayed in struggling ministries while friends who church-hop seem to have more fulfilling spiritual experiences.

Maybe you're a business owner or employee who refuses to provide services that violate your conscience or left lucrative careers in industries that conflict with your Christian principles.

If I'm honest, this is one of the most common struggles I encounter as a pastor. Not the big theological questions about the Trinity or predestination. It's this quiet, persistent question: "Does my faith actually make any measurable difference in real life? Is my faithfulness worth the cost?"

Some days, even I feel like there are no clear consequences for ignoring God or that there are any obvious rewards for following Him.

This morning, some of you walked into this auditorium carrying that exact weight. The weight of wondering whether God actually shows up in the real world. The weight of questioning whether your faithfulness is foolishness. The weight of feeling like your loyalty to God is a luxury you can't afford in a world that seems to reward the opposite.

If that's you, I want you to know you're not alone. And more importantly, I want you to know that 2,500 years ago, God's people felt exactly the same way—and God had something specific to say about it.

They were asking the same question we want ask and answer this morning:

What should we do when serving God seems pointless and unrewarding?

Like many of you here this morning, many of them had been faithful. They'd been obedient. They'd been loyal. And they were tired. Tired of feeling like their devotion didn't matter. Tired of watching people who ignored God seemingly get ahead.

The writer of Proverbs knew this temptation too and I think he encapsulated perfectly the core of the message this morning.

It’s in Proverbs 24:19-20, he writes:

Proverbs 24:19–20 CSB

19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked. 20 For the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

I want to first read the passage in its entirety— we pick up in chapter 3 verse 13…

Malachi 3:13–18 CSB

13 “Your words against me are harsh,” says the Lord. Yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?” 14 You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Armies? 15 So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate. Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and escape.”

Malachi 3:13–18 CSB

16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Notice something important here. God doesn't dismiss their feelings. He doesn't say, "How dare you question me!" Instead, He acknowledges their frustration and then reveals three crucial truths that change everything.

The first one is that

I. GOD RECOGNIZES YOUR LOYAL SERVICE (vv. 13-15)

First, let's be honest about what these people were feeling. Look back at verse 14:

Malachi 3:14 CSB

14 You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Armies?

These weren't rebels. These weren't people who had given up on God entirely. These were faithful people who had been doing the right things for the right reasons, and they were discouraged by what seemed like a lack of results. They had been back in the land now for a 100 years and they were still under the reproach of their enemies. the messiah had not come.

The Hebrew word for "useless" here is shaw—it means empty, vain, without purpose. They felt like their faithfulness was a waste of time.

Can you identify? So what causes this feeling that our loyal service goes unnoticed?

Let me suggest three things:

First, we live in an instant gratification culture. We're used to immediate feedback—likes on social media, instant messages, same-day delivery. But God's recognition often works on a different timeline than our expectations. When we don't see immediate results from our faithfulness, we assume no one is watching.

Second, we measure success by worldly standards. The world rewards visibility, applause, and measurable outcomes. But most loyal service happens in the quiet, ordinary moments that no human ever sees. Changing diapers at 3 AM. Choosing honesty when no one would know you lied. Forgiving when you have every right to be angry. These acts of loyalty don't get press releases.

Third, we compare our behind-the-scenes faithfulness with other people's highlight reels. We see our own struggles, doubts, and failures up close, but we only see others' successes from a distance. We think everyone else has it easier because we don't see their private battles.

But here's what they didn't understand—and what we often forget: God doesn't evaluate our service the way the world does.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God reminds us that…

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

…man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Listen to me carefully: When the world looks at your faithful service and sees nothing special, God looks at your heart and sees everything. When others dismiss your integrity as naive, God recognizes it as beautiful. When people overlook your sacrificial love, God notices every single act of service.

Your late-night prayers for your children aren't invisible—God hears every word. Your choice to forgive when you've been deeply hurt isn't unnoticed—God sees the courage it takes. Your decision to give when money is tight isn't overlooked—God recognizes your trust. Your faithfulness in a difficult marriage isn't wasted—God values your commitment. Your honest work when no one is watching isn't meaningless—God observes your character.

The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 139 that God knows us completely—every thought, every motive, every sacrifice:

Psalm 139:1–4 CSB

1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.

Hebrews 4:13 tells us that …

Hebrews 4:13 CSB

13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

[Illustration]

I recently read about a janitor at a children's hospital who had worked the night shift for over twenty years. Nobody really knew his name. He wasn't on any committee. He didn't get any recognition. But every night, he would quietly pray over each room as he cleaned it. Every night, he would leave little encouraging notes for the nurses. Every night, he would make sure that when families arrived in crisis, they walked into a space that felt cared for.

When he retired, they discovered that he had been doing this for two decades. Twenty years of faithful, invisible service. Twenty years of loyal love that nobody was measuring or celebrating.

The administration wanted to throw him a big party, but he wanted to decline it. He said, "I wasn't doing it for recognition. I was doing it for God and for the families. That was enough."

That's the kind of service God recognizes. Not the flashy, public kind that gets applause. The quiet, consistent, heart-level kind that flows from love.

God sees what others miss. God recognizes what others ignore. Your loyal service isn't invisible to Him—it's precious to Him. Every act of faithfulness, no matter how small, no matter how unnoticed by others, is seen, valued, and treasured by the God who knows your heart completely.

Paul reminds us in…

1 Corinthians 4:5 CSB

5 …don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

Did you catch that? Each will receive praise from God. Not just the pastors. Not just the missionaries. Not just the people in leadership. Each faithful servant will receive praise from God for their loyal service—service that may have gone completely unnoticed by everyone else.

But God doesn't just recognize your service in the moment—

II. GOD REMEMBERS YOUR LOYAL HEART (v. 16)

Look at verse 16:

Malachi 3:16 CSB

16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name.

A book of remembrance. God is keeping records.

This isn't about God having a bad memory and needing to write things down. This is about God treasuring your faithfulness so much that He records it permanently.

In Psalm 56:8, David writes that you, God

Psalm 56:8 CSB

8 …have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

In Nehemiah 13:14, Nehemiah prays,

Nehemiah 13:14 CSB

14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.

And look at how God answers his prayer. He included it here in Scripture for all time.

There's a woman in our community who has been caring for her mother with dementia for the past six years. Every day, she drives across town to help her dad with medications, meals, and basic care. Some days her mother recognizes her. Some days she doesn't. Some days her mother is grateful. Some days she's angry and confused.

The world doesn't see this daily sacrifice. There's no performance review for daughters caring for aging parents. There's no salary for love. But God sees every meal prepared with patience. God notices every gentle word spoken in frustration. God remembers every sacrifice made.

And He's writing it down.

The book of remembrance isn't just a nice metaphor—it's a reality that shapes eternity. Revelation 20:12 speaks of books being opened, and Daniel 7:10 describes thousands upon thousands of books in God's presence.

Your loyal heart matters so much to God that He's keeping permanent records of it.

And this leads us to the most stunning truth of all. God doesn't just recognize and remember your faithfulness—He rewards it.

III. GOD REWARDS YOUR LOYAL LIFE (vv. 17-18)

[Transition: build anticipation]

Look at verses

Malachi 3:17–18 CSB

17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Three incredible promises here:

First, you belong to God as His treasured possession. The Hebrew word here is segullah—it refers to a king's personal treasure, the most valuable items in his vault. That's how God sees you when you live loyally for Him.

Second, God will show you the same compassion a father shows a faithful son. This isn't cold, distant appreciation. This is warm, personal, familial love.

Third, you will see the difference your faithfulness makes. Not always immediately, but eventually. God promises that loyal living and selfish living will have different outcomes.

Jesus spoke of the faithful servant hearing-

Matthew 25:21 CSB

21 …Well done, good and faithful servant! …. Share your master’s joy.’

Paul reminds us that

1 Corinthians 3:8 CSB

8 … each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Watch parents at any playground and you'll see two approaches: parents who set clear boundaries, enforce consequences, and teach their kids to work for things they want, and parents who give their kids whatever they ask for to avoid conflict and keep them quiet or distracted.

In the moment, the permissive parents seem to have happier children and easier days. But follow these families for twenty years, and you'll often find that the children who learned discipline and delayed gratification become more successful, resilient adults, while those who got everything they wanted struggle with motivation and responsibility.

It's what we might call "the parenting paradox"—the approach that seems harder in the moment often produces the better long-term outcomes.

But even that earthly research only hints at the eternal reality. God's rewards for faithful living extend far beyond this life.

Jesus promises in Revelation 22:12

Revelation 22:12 CSB

12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.

Paul, at the end of his life, could confidently say,

2 Timothy 4:8 CSB

8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, …

So what does this mean for you? How do you live differently when you know that God recognizes, remembers, and rewards your loyal life?

If you walked in here today feeling like your loyalty to God has been pointless, I want you to hear this clearly: your faithfulness is not invisible, it's not forgotten, and it's not unrewarded.

[Specific applications]

If you're a spouse struggling to love well when your marriage feels one-sided—God sees every act of grace, every choice to forgive, every decision to serve instead of keeping score.

If you're a parent exhausted from the daily grind of raising children with patience and wisdom—God notices every bedtime prayer, every teaching moment, every sacrifice you make for their good.

If you're a student choosing to maintain integrity when others are cheating their way to better grades—God recognizes your character even when others don't.

If you're an employee doing excellent work even when your boss doesn't appreciate it—God sees your faithfulness and will reward it.

If you're caring for aging parents, volunteering in ministries that feel thankless, or simply trying to live with integrity in a world that seems to reward the opposite—God's recognition, remembrance, and reward make it all worthwhile.

[Practical Steps for Renewed Loyalty; Slow down, be specific]

First, remember that your audience is God, not people. When you serve, when you sacrifice, when you choose faithfulness over personal gain, you're not performing for human applause. You're living for an audience of One who sees everything and forgets nothing.

Second, connect with other faithful people. Notice what verse 16 says: "Those who feared the Lord spoke to one another." Loyalty is easier in community. Find people who are also choosing faithfulness, and encourage each other in the journey.

Third, keep an eternal perspective. The rewards of loyal living aren't always immediate, but they're always certain. When you're tempted to think faithfulness is futile, remember that God's timeline is longer than yours, and His rewards are greater than you can imagine.

Fourth, root your obedience in the gospel, not in willpower. You don't serve God to earn His love—you serve Him because you already have it. Christ's death and resurrection means you're already God's treasured possession. Your loyalty flows from gratitude, not guilt.

[Paint the picture ]

Imagine what your life could look like if you really believed that God recognizes, remembers, and rewards your loyalty. Imagine the peace of knowing that your faithfulness matters, even when no one else notices. Imagine the joy of serving from love rather than obligation. Imagine the confidence of knowing that your loyalty will be vindicated in the end.

That's not just a nice dream—that's the reality God offers to every person willing to live loyally for Him.

[Title Slide; Tie back to opening story]

Remember Ms. Bennett, my demanding English teacher? For years, she faithfully maintained high standards, pushed students to excel, and refused to lower her expectations—even when class after class of students dropped out, even when no one thanked her, even when she probably went home many nights wondering if her work mattered.

She was doing exactly what that thirty-year study discovered: the most meaningful work often feels the most futile while you're doing it.

[Pause]

When I walked into her office years later to thank her, I realized something profound. Ms. Bennett had been faithful to her calling long before she could see the results. She had invested in my future without knowing if I'd ever appreciate it. She had done the hard work of teaching with excellence, trusting that it mattered even when there was no immediate evidence.

And when I thanked her—when she saw that her faithful work had actually made a lasting difference—I witnessed something beautiful. I saw what happens when faithful service is finally recognized. Her reaction told me everything: she had been serving faithfully without recognition for so long that genuine appreciation overwhelmed her.

That's exactly what God is telling us in Malachi 3. Your faithful service may feel futile right now, but God sees a bigger picture than you do. Your loyalty may seem unrewarded today, but God is working through your faithfulness in ways you won't understand until much later—maybe not until eternity.

Here's what I want you to remember:

When loyalty to God seems futile, know that God recognizes your loyal service, remembers your loyal heart, and rewards your loyal life.

Ms. Bennett taught me that faithful work creates lasting influence, even when the results are invisible. Your faithfulness isn't futile—it's creating an impact you may not see for years, or even until eternity. God is writing a story through your loyalty that's bigger than you can imagine.

[Pause, final appeal]

So don't give up. Don't quit. Don't let the temporary invisibility of your impact convince you that your loyalty is worthless.

Keep serving. Keep sacrificing. Keep choosing faithfulness.

God is watching. God is remembering. God is working through your loyalty in ways you can't see yet.

And someday—maybe in this life, maybe in the next—you'll discover that your faithful service mattered more than you ever imagined.

[Title Slide; Closing prayer]

[Invitation for personal response]

Let's pray together:

Father, thank You for seeing us when others don't. Thank You for remembering our faithful hearts when we feel forgotten. Thank You for the promise that our loyalty to You will be rewarded.

For those of us who are tired, strengthen us. For those of us who are discouraged, remind us of Your promises. For those of us who are tempted to give up, renew our hope.

Help us to live loyally not because it's easy, but because it's right. Not because others will notice, but because You do. Not because the rewards are immediate, but because they're eternal.

We surrender our desire for recognition to You. We trust You with our faithfulness. We choose loyalty, knowing that You recognize, remember, and reward.

In Jesus' name, Amen.