I
write this following a week of significant ministry. Now you may be expecting
me to go on to talk about the number of visits that I have made both in homes
and in hospitals, the amount of people that I counseled, the Bible studies I
taught, and the sermons I preached. While all of those certainly are
significant ministry tasks, last week I actually did none of them. Instead, my
week consisted of helping my wife with things around the house as she recovered
from delivery such as doing the dishes and the laundry, feeding my newborn son,
changing his diapers, and calming him when fussy.
We
often think significant ministry is only that which is done in an official capacity
for the church. That if we are not serving on a specific board or committee,
being a deacon, teaching a Sunday School class, delivering a sermon, or traveling overseas for missionary work, then we
are not actually doing significant ministry. But that is far from the truth.
For the Christian, everything that he or she does ought to be viewed as
significant ministry for the kingdom of God (including but not limited to the
things in that list). Even ordinary mundane tasks such as changing diapers or washing
the dishes. This is because everything that the Christian does should no longer
be for himself and his own gain but for the glory of God and our neighbor’s
good. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” and in Colossians 3:17, “And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Such an attitude transforms the
ordinary tasks of everyday life into extraordinary ministry opportunities by
which to bring glory to God as we seek to do them in excellence to please and
honor Him. It changes our very perspective. These are not simply things that
have to be done and so I need to hurry up and do them but ways that I can serve
the One who loves me so much that He gave His very life for me. He is pleased
when I do every ordinary thing in gratitude to Him and in accordance with His
Word. And that makes the smallest deed done on this earth significant.
In a sense, nothing really should be
seen as “secular” for the Christian in his or her life but “sacred” since all
of life is viewed as being set apart for and devoted to God. (That’s the
meaning of “sacred” by the way. Something being set apart for and devoted to
God.) You may think that you work at a “secular” job but in essence it is a “sacred”
job for you because you realize that your ultimate boss is not the one you report
to on Monday morning but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who will reward us with
a far greater treasure than any financial reimbursement, the inheritance of
heaven itself (Colossians 3:23-24). You will want to do a good job in light of such
a truth. Ordinary tasks in marriage such as washing the dishes and doing the
laundry become sacred tasks when we keep in mind that they are ways of serving
our spouse and in so doing painting the picture of the greater gospel
relationship that the marriage union points to, that of Christ and the Church
(Ephesians 5:22-33). With such small tasks, we also can demonstrate the great
love which Christ has shown us in giving fully of Himself for our benefit.
These little everyday things can be big ways to love our husbands and wives
like Jesus as we give of ourselves for their benefit. As we take up our cross
and deny ourselves for their sake. Parenting transforms into a sacred task with
the mindset that our goal as parents is so much more than preparing our
children to be a polite respectful outstanding citizen or to find a good mate
but ultimately to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to live for Him. That each day
provides so many opportunities to both teach and present the gospel to them
(Deuteronomy 6:6-7). What a holy privilege to prepare these little ones for
eternity! Brother Lawrence was right in a sense that in most cases, “Sanctification
does not involve changing what we do, but in doing our normal activities for
God’s sake.”
Martin Luther and the reformers
really emphasized this, that even the seemingly most mundane task, done in
faith for Christ and the glory of God is significant in God's eyes. Here is him
talking about it in his characteristic way: "Now observe that when that
clever harlot, our natural reason . . . , takes a look at married life, she
turns up her nose and says, ‘Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make
its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it
cries, heal its rashes and sores and on top of that care for my wife, provide
for her, labor at my trade, take care of this and take care of that, do this
and do that, endure this and endure that, and whatever else of bitterness and
drudgery married life involves?’
"What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens
its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties
in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as
with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that
thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also
know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee
that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be
entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without
any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy
creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the
duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat,
neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that
it is thus pleasing in thy sight. God, with all his angels and creatures is
smiling—not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so
in Christian faith.”
So as you go about your
day today facing some of those ordinary mundane tasks, be sure to give it your
best effort because you are not doing them for yourself but for your Lord. Don’t
stick up your nose at them thinking that your time could better be spent doing
something greater. Seek to do such ordinary chores in gratitude to God for all
that He has done for you in Christ and to bring Him glory and praise. Well, I
have a little baby who needs to be fed. Another significant ministry task for
God’s glory!
Love
in Christ,
Pastor
Lee
