麗貝卡·李·克魯普勒醫生（Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler）是美國第一位得到醫科學位的非裔婦女。然而，在她的一生中（1831-1895年），經常都遭人忽視、輕看和鄙夷。但儘管如此，她依舊致力於救治人的工作並實現她的人生目的。克魯普勒坦言：「即或有人以我的種族與性別來評價我，我仍會以全新的心態和勇氣做好準備，無論何時何地，只要有人需要醫療服務，我就立即前往。」而她確實做到了。她相信治療婦女與小孩，以及提供醫療照顧給那些被釋放的奴隸，乃是服事上帝的一種方式。但很遺憾，她的成就直到將近一個世紀之後，才得到人們的正式認可。

有時候，我們也會被周遭的人忽視、輕蔑或不屑一顧。但聖經的智慧提醒我們，當上帝呼召我們去做一件事時，我們不應專注於獲得世人的認可和讚許，而是應當「無論做什麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的」（歌羅西書3章23節）。當我們專注於服事上帝時，我們便能靠著上帝的大能與帶領，滿懷熱忱和喜樂地完成那最困難的任務。如此一來，我們就可以不那麼在意一般人的認可，而是更加渴望得到只有上帝能夠給予的獎賞（24節）。

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. Yet during her lifetime (1831–95), she recalls being “ignored, slighted and rendered insignificant.” However, she remained devoted to healing and fulfilling her purpose. Crumpler affirmed that although some people might choose to judge her based on her race and gender, she’d always have a “renewed and courageous readiness to go whenever and wherever duty calls,” and that she did. She believed that treating women and children and providing medical attention for freed slaves was a way to serve God. Sadly, she didn’t receive formal recognition for her accomplishments until nearly a century later. 

There are times when we’ll be overlooked, devalued, or unappreciated by those around us. Biblical wisdom reminds us, however, that when God has called us to a task, we shouldn’t focus on gaining worldly approval and recognition but should instead “work at it with all [our] heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). When we focus on serving God, we’re able to accomplish even the most difficult tasks with fervor and gladness in His power and leading. We can then become less concerned with receiving earthly recognition and become more eager to receive the reward only He can provide (v. 24).