I like this passage:
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)
In a world where even so many of us Believers have a need to find fulfillment in how highly others think of us or how well we perform at our jobs, these two short verses give me a lot of perspective.
So even if I at times work unto exhaustion and feel that I have not received the proper kudos - whatever the circumstance - I will remember this phrase:
You are serving the Lord Christ.
Our reward is coming.