Working For An Audience Of One
When effort goes unnoticed.
For work that nobody thanks you for.
The big idea
Unseen work is not wasted work. It is just unseen.
What does “Working For An Audience Of One” walk through?
Your Father Sees
Matthew 6:6 · KJV
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
In plain English
When you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. He sees in secret and will reward you.
Hidden On Purpose
Jesus treats hiddenness as a feature. The reward is tied to the Father seeing, not to anyone else finding out — which quietly removes the sting from being overlooked.
Not For Men
Colossians 3:23 · KJV
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
In plain English
Do your work with full effort and integrity. Make it an offering to God, not just to impress people.
“If you only do good work when it is noticed, it was never the work you loved.”
He Will Finish It
Philippians 1:6 · KJV
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
In plain English
I am sure of this: the one who began a good work in you will carry it through to completion.
Recognition Is Not The Point
Wanting to be seen is human, not sinful. It just makes a terrible engine — it runs out the moment nobody claps.
Pray
Lord, you see this. That is enough. Help me mean that. Amen.
Write it down
What faithful thing have you done lately that nobody noticed?
Seen by God
It counted. It always counted.
Which passages does this journey use?
3 passages, drawn from Matthew 6:6, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 1:6. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 6 minutes for the whole thing, or 7 short sittings.
- Matthew 6:6
- Colossians 3:23
- Philippians 1:6
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in Work, Ambition and Calling
All Work, Ambition and Calling →The Work In Front Of You
Ordinary effort, offered up.
When Results Feel Like Identity
You are not your score.
The Night Before Something Big
Prayer for the hours you cannot control.
Choosing What's Next
Guidance when there is no obvious answer.
Your First Job
Character when nobody is watching.
When You're The Youngest In The Room
Age is not the same as authority.