The Small Work

"The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God's power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary sordid things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty as it ought to be done." Oswald Chambers

So often we long for glory, to be noticed and appreciated, to be admired for our accomplishments. We desire to serve in grand ways and accomplish great things for God. But what about those little things? 

What about the breakfast dishes and the diapers? 

What about the board books and the blocks? 

What about the laundry and the dusting? 

What about the teaching and training? 

What about the faithfulness to our daily Bible reading? 

What about the kind words instead of a sharp tone? 

What about the evidence of our love for our husband? 

What about the small things that seem to be nothing? 

Yes, I write something about the small work frequently but that's because the small work matters. The work right in front of our hands that God has assigned us for today is our glorious calling. The Apostle's Paul's life is what we would call a life of accomplishment. He traveled over the known world winning others to Christ and planting churches. He wrote books of the Bible and witnessed in front of huge crowds of people. But most of his life was walking; they didn't have cars or trains then. His life was teaching people who seemed to not get it. His life was writing down the words, suffering through hardships, and serving in the most menial ways. We should not search for the fame or the glory. We must serve in the mundane and routine. 

We must serve in the Tuesday that comes every week and seems to hold nothing special. (Of course it really does.) We must serve in the daily routine of bedtime with our children even if we are tired and worn out mentally. We must serve the same people who show up every day dirty and misbehaving. And not just serve, but serve with joy. 

After Jesus washed the disciples feet he said, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15) Can we really think that any task is beneath us if we are following the footsteps of our Savior? 

We cannot do it on our own.  Too often we try to serve on our own and we quickly realize the task is beyond us. It takes "all God's power in me to do the most commonplace things in His way." ALL God's power for the most commonplace things. Isn't that true? It's easy to think that we only need God for the big things but we need Him for the small things too. Surrender yourself and your day to Him and obey what He says. 

All small work is not the same. Your small work may be filing or waiting tables or taking complaints over the phone. But it's the same truth. It takes all of God in you to do your work well regardless of what it is. Be faithful to the small work in front of you today.