Currently I’m reading a book “Grace for the Good Girl” by Emily P. Freeman. (I suppose I could be techy-cool and post a link here, but I’ll let google be your friend if you’re interested in looking it up. Ha!) In one chapter she is talking about our ‘good girl’ friend, Martha. Oh, Martha. I am SO glad she is in the Bible! How I identify with Martha!
In this book, the author refers to a quote from another book (The Indwelling Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas) that really caught my attention.
“It is not the nature of what you do that determines the spirituality of any action, but the origin of what you do.”
I do not know the context of this quote since I have not read his book, but it sent my little brain on a spin. It does not matter if you are scrubbing toilets in the church or leading songs in the pulpit, it’s not the nature of what you do that determines the spirituality, and dare I say, value, of your actions. But the origin (are you doing it in your own power and strength or “through Christ who strengthens me”) and I believe the motivation (are you doing it for the Lord or for others to see how good you are).
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus...” (Colossians 3:17). And a few verses later it talks about working “as unto the Lord”. This same passage talks about how we are all one body and how we should allow love to bind us together in perfect unity.
But you may say, “Oh, but cleaning the church bathroom seems so ordinary!” Or “I’m invisible here in the nursery, all I do is change diapers and burp babies!” Maybe you’re a stay-at-home-mom and you feel trapped in the day-to-day chores of housework. Or maybe you’re a pastor’s wife and it seems like other pastor’s wives are more “with it” than you. This author, Emily, also makes a statement that caught my eye. “When you’re in it [whatever your ministry or job or service], it doesn’t feel true [true that it's extraordinary or special]. It just feels ordinary.” Have you ever heard that whisper in your ear, “The work you do isn’t very important. You’re not even very good at it! So-and-so does it much better!” I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard that whisper! Yes, even missionary wives hear that whisper. I look at other missionary wives and they seem to be doing so much more. Or other mothers who seem to always have perfectly dressed children and THEIR kids always say “please” and “thank you”. What about the one who always prepares beautiful potluck dishes and everyone oohs and ahhs over her contribution. Meanwhile mine is a little lopsided and slightly under-(or over-)cooked.
Like Martha, we are trying to find our value in what we DO. But Jesus already DID it all! Now we just surrender to Him and allow Him to work through us, strengthen us, and turn the results over to Him. And when He is in it, it MUST be extraordinary!
So I challenge us (myself included) to put down our measuring sticks. Let us not “compare ourselves among ourselves” (2 Corinthians 10:12). But let’s look to Jesus. Let’s find our value in Him. Allow His Word to be our mirror. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139). You are a child of the King. He created you. He knows you. He values you. And He loves you. What an amazing God!
