There are no menial jobs

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

David said, “I’d rather scrub floors in the house of…God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin” (Psalm 84:10 MSG). Along those lines, Joni Eareckson Tada wrote, “Elsie runs a Christian home for young girls who have left lives of prostitution and drug dealing on the streets of Hollywood. She walks the streets, shares the gospel, and leads these girls to Christ. If these new converts truly desire to change their lives and commit to new responsibilities, they have a place in Elsie’s home. Pam is one such convert…A Christian with a sweet spirit, she bears scars from knife fights and heroin needles. Her arms are marred with tattoos. I sensed her joy and deep appreciation when she explained her role…‘I scrub the toilets and bathrooms…That’s my job and I love it!’ This young woman was so grateful to have structure in her life, safety in her surroundings, and an honest-to-goodness job of service in Christ’s kingdom…that a day of ministry in Elsie’s home was far better than a thousand days lived in the sordid pursuit of self-destructive pleasures…Her humble spirit towards her job…her delight in cleaning toilets sprang from a keen awareness of her role in the body of Christ. Few believers have a background like Pam’s, but every day each of us rolls our sleeves up to accomplish menial, basic tasks—changing oil in cars, changing ink cartridges in printers, or changing diapers (perhaps on an elderly parent).” So how’s your attitude toward menial work? When you “serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2), you find joy in everyday chores because you remember who you’re working for.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024