Tending to the Rooftops: When Only Jesus Sees

“Anna, have you ever seen the rooftop of the Milan cathedral?”

I had just shared with my husband feelings of isolation and discontentment I’d experienced since graduating college months prior, and that was how he responded. Surprised that his reaction included mention of European Renaissance architecture, I shook my head in confusion. He quickly pulled up some photos to show me.

He explained that when Duomo di Milano’s awe-inspiring rooftop was constructed during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth centuries, there was no expectation for it to be a tourist attraction for adoring fans in centuries to come. As far as the builders and craftsmen knew, no one would ever take photos, use a drone to capture epic footage, or buy tickets for a guided tour in order to marvel at their majestic work. When this cathedral’s rooftop was constructed, seemingly the least important part, its primary purpose was to exist for the viewing pleasure of God alone. 

Humble, talented craftsmen had worked meticulously on every square centimeter of the vast rooftop without publicity or praise. They had ascended the 213-foot spires, chiseling the marble and shaping the embellishments in places that might never be appreciated this side of heaven. I was immediately convicted.

Relocating to the Rooftop

For the builders of Duomo di Milano, the Lord’s eyes were enough; they didn’t need any other audience. And with that knowledge, they were motivated to work with excellence, to honor, magnify and delight Him, regardless of anything or anyone else. This applied to the secret places just as much as the oft-viewed ones. It made me pause.

I had just given years of effort throughout my college career working on a creative songwriting project with a lot of supposed “promise,” only to find myself accepting the unexpected reality that the project would no longer be continued. In addition, after years of serving on my college campus, I found myself working a full-time remote job where the only beating hearts in my vicinity belonged to myself and my pet fish. I was also adjusting to life off-campus, embracing the responsibilities and tasks of caring for an apartment and a husband. 

My creative pursuits, ministry, and relationships that were once quite public had suddenly become private and hidden. They had gone from the populated pews to the seclusion of the rooftop, so to speak.

How was I tending to those rooftops in my own life? The hidden parts that others may never see? My songwriting, my dishwashing, my isolated forty-hours per week of blue-light exposure . . . Was I rejoicing in the opportunity to humbly serve for God’s pleasure alone, like the craftsmen of the Milan Cathedral? Or had I begun to deem the now-hidden parts of my life as less valuable, not needing as much attention, since they no longer had a visible audience? 

Not only had I been underwhelmed by my audience of One, but I had subconsciously decided that He cared little about how I worked in the hidden places of my life, as though my work was ultimately for my glory instead of His.

Our True Reason and Reward

In Colossians 3:23–24, Paul says, 

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. (emphasis added) 

When our sights are set on this life alone, we care significantly more about rewards in the here and now and lose sight of the eternal prize. When we view work as something done for people and not for the Lord (as we often do), we become inclined to care more about the pleasure of our human onlookers than that of our heavenly Father. Where does that leave us when there are no people around to please? 

Matthew communicates a similar message as Paul when he says, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:4, emphasis added). This, too, should prompt the utmost excellence in our work, no matter who else may be around. Unfortunately, our easily-pleased hearts are content with the earthly reward of attention and gratification, leaving us underwhelmed by the greater glory of heavenly reward—the ability to bring pleasure to God. 

Paul further speaks to thisin Colossians 3:22: “Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.” The temptation to give more attention to the public parts of our lives isn’t new. While it’s definitely fueled by modern inventions like social media, this self-focused mindset has existed as long as sin has been around. Paul’s audience needed this message back in AD 60; our modern ears need it as well. 

Paul’s reasoning for working wholeheartedly is based upon fear of the Lord—a deep reverence, respect, and awe for His power and authority. Our fear of the Lord shouldn’t waver, so neither should our pursuit of excellence. This makes validation and applause from others irrelevant in our service to Him. 

Your humility will be fiercely tested when your audience is strictly limited. Your faithfulness in using your gifts to do the work God has called you to do will be challenged when the outcomes are seemingly useless or go unnoticed. Consider these questions:

• If you know you can cut corners on a reading assignment for school or a professional development course for work without anyone finding out, do you take the shortcut?
• Do you only truly care for your home when you’re expecting company? 
• Are you an overwhelmed mother, underwhelmed by the delight you bring the Lord when you serve your children day after day? 
• Do you publicly pray for the women you minister to but neglect to intercede for them behind the scenes? 
• Do you have creative gifts but only use them when viewed and validated by an audience?

As Paul said, “You serve the Lord Christ.” As a Christian, you know the hidden reality. The only audience that truly, eternally matters is your audience of One. With this in mind, your work should excel at all times for His pleasure and His glory alone. When it does, you’ll find it satisfies the deepest parts of you. His delight should be all the motivation and satisfaction you need.

He Sees Your Rooftop 

This attitude of humble servanthood is a muscle to grow. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to help you examine your heart. Is the witness of Jesus enough? Would you do the things you do if no one else ever knew? Would you continue to use your spiritual gifts even if Jesus was the only recipient?

When a creative pursuit of mine appeared to fall flat, from an earthly perspective, His Spirit stirred my heart: “Will you still create just for Me? Is My delight enough for you?” When I was discontent with the effort of privately maintaining my home and marriage, His Spirit challenged me: “Will you bring order and beauty to this apartment for My delight? Will you care for your husband to bring Me pleasure? Is My applause and approval sufficient for you?”

My sister, your Father sees you on the rooftop of your life. As Psalm 139:2–3 says, 

You know when I sit down and when I stand up; 
you understand my thoughts from far away. 
You observe my travels and my rest; 
you are aware of all my ways.

No detail, task, or effort is insignificant in His eyes. He sees you when no one else does. 

His delight will satisfy and encourage you more than any earthly audience or human praise ever could. What are the rooftops in your life that need to be tended to with more intentionality, purpose, and honor? May your rooftops tell the story of a woman who fears the Lord and is solely content with Him for your audience. He sees you.

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