The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what he gets from it, but what he becomes by it. (John Ruskin, 19th century English art critic)

Ruskin is probably not speaking against a fair wage or gaining a just benefit for good work and diligent service. What he has said causes us to realize that there is more to be gained by hard work than just a salary. The lessons learned from work, the experience gained, and the character that is formed are the long-lasting rewards for faithful work.

All hard work brings a profit (Proverbs 14:23). Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).