“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
This morning greeted me with three loads of laundry, dishes in the sink, and dirty kitchen counters and floors. I’ve dealt with this for many years raising my kids. Now that they are older and grown, however, the house is just as messy. Yet, there is no one to help me clean it. Each week I cleaned, I felt resentment boil up inside my soul. Cleaning a bathroom I didn't use as well as rooms I didn't occupy was wearing on me. I felt like a maid. I felt like no one saw anything that I did. I felt this way similarly in the days of being a young mother. I thought those days would go away, but, unfortunately, even as my kids became adults, their lack of help around the house was wearing on me.
One day while I did laundry, God spoke to my heart. I sensed this was the most important work I had to do at the moment because I was raising my children and being a good steward of my home. I was caring about what God cared about, putting aside my own career and ambitions and focusing on another type of work: stewardship.
No matter what occupation you find yourself in in life, it is important to God what you do. While there are certain jobs that get more prestige and honor than others, every work is important. We will be surprised in heaven that many of those who scrubbed toilets and washed floors will get more jewels in their crown than those who received the more prestigious jobs here on earth. God sees and measures all. God gives as he decides. It's what we do with it that matters.
Genesis 3:18-19 sets the stage for what work would look like for us after the fall: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; or dust you are and to dust you will return.” Because of the fall of man, work on earth is difficult. We will toil through sweat and pain, and work, especially important work, will not be accomplished easily. Some chores we will enjoy; others will really feel like work.
But everything we do we do for God. Whether it's cleaning up a room full of toys, washing someone else's laundry or doing the dishes, we are stewarding what God has given us. Although it can seem mundane, and even downright demeaning at times, it’s important we understand that is the work God has for us in that moment. We are to work as if we are worshipping God. This helped change my perspective the next time I cleaned. I would repeat the above verse to myself often, reminding myself that I was worshipping the Lord when I did his work. When I became resentful or wanted to ignore the work, I was missing out on an opportunity to worship God.
In what ways is God calling you to worship God today? With what mundane tasks do you find yourself in your daily routine? Perhaps you're overlooking that pile of laundry or are weary from caring for a sick loved one. No matter what it is, know that you are worshipping God in a new and exciting way.
Worship doesn't just happen on Sundays. It happens every day. The way we live our lives is an example of –and the reflection of—how we see God. God gives us what he chooses. We are tasked with stewarding it. How well have you used what God has given you?
Father, help us to find ways to steward what you have given us. Help us to see our work (even the most mundane tasks) as an act of worship and working for you, not man. Help us not to see that our work is demeans our value, but rather it is an opportunity to reflect you. Amen.
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Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and a certified writing coach. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.
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