Cleaning bathrooms is my least favorite chore. It’s thankless and meaningless. Or is it?
We can definitely waste our time on empty, worldly activities. But when we are doing something useful, it's never a waste of time if we do it with the right attitude.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
If we do our tasks for God and with God, whatever we do can be meaningful, whether helping the needy, changing a baby's diaper, writing a Bible study, working in an office, leading people to the Lord…or cleaning bathrooms.
In fact, we can make menial tasks more important by reciting Scripture, praying, and singing songs of praise while doing them. The Amplified Version of this passage offers some additional insights:
“Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.”
Consider this important truth throughout your day, and ask God to give you a keen awareness of His presence and purpose in everything you do today.
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You'll also enjoy Insights from My Laundry Room, written by my friend Amy.
Picture to the right: The truths in this devotion really hit home thirty years ago when I was with a group of Christians who volunteered to clean “squatty-potties” in preparation for a Christian conference at a former Communist youth camp in Bulgaria.
Gail I recognize the "squaty potty"!!! Those things can definitely be a beast to clean. Wherever I'm serving or working in my life I want it to be for eternity and to point to God. What a challenge to get my focus off of how "glorifying" the task is to me.
ReplyDeleteI clean houses for a living now, and sometimes I just want to get-it-done, but then I remind myself to do every thing as unto the Lord.
ReplyDeleteBut now when I am grossing out over cleaning a toilet I will just remember the "thing" you are cleaning and that should straighten me up real quick!
Found you via Teach me Tuesdays and am subscribed to you now :)
Whenever I find myself rolling my eyes over mundane chores, I remember that this is a blessing for someone (usually myself), and everyone needs blessings. Thanks for the post :)
ReplyDeleteVery insightful and encourging message
ReplyDeleteGail, I was in a situation having to help a family member who lived in an abandoned bldg. Even tho his 1 rm. and kitchenette was all he had to live in, he had to use the community bathroom. I had to clean his small abode once a wk. and that included the bathroom that was in the hallway. Oh, I thought I was super Christian and I discovered what it really meant to do this in love of the Lord and as unto Him. More than anything it humbled me and did what the Lord needed me to learn. The greatest thing is God received another person into His Kingdom. How wonderful is our God. I am so glad you shared this devotion and brought back my 'precious memory'. JKH - WV
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your post, Gail. As I have been cleaning and sweating in the heat here in Mexico today, it put things into perspective. Doing all things as unto the Lord.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!