Everybody Wants a Revolution But Nobody Wants to do the Dishes

I read the quote in the title of this blog this morning on a friend’s Facebook wall.  Not sure what the original source of it is, but it wasn’t me.  And it hit home for me today in light of today’s reading from Romans 11.

As a pastor and leader, sometimes – actually a lot of the time – it’s difficult for me to focus on what’s right now instead of what’s next.  It’s not just something that poses a challenge for me as a pastor, it’s who I’ve been my entire life.  I always want to know what the next big, fun or exciting thing is.  One of our 3 kids is exactly the same way.  That kid, and I, can be in the midst of some great and wonderful event or family adventure and already be thinking down the road to what the next wonderful event or family adventure will be.  It’s hard to be in the moment, and focusing on what God has placed before us right now, when we’re always thinking about the next big thing.

The Apostle Paul’s writings are filled with great and godly visions of mission and ministry.  If one thing marked Paul’s life, it was adventure and danger as he lived out God’s calling on his life.  As I read Scripture, I almost always read with an eye towards that next big thing in my life and my ministry.  I want to see a revolution of God!  Wanting to see a revolution and a movement of God is a wonderful thing!  It’s a God thing. 

But doing the dishes can be too.  Or taking care of your kids and home; digging ditches; counting beans; setting up and running computer networks; building houses; teaching a class room full of eager and not-so-eager students; offering care and compassion to your patients or clients.  Whatever you do for your “day job” or during the 9-5 is just as important in your calling to live for Christ as doing the big, hairy audacious things that God lays on your heart.

Paul has spent most of Romans 9, 10 & 11 lamenting the fact that so many of his fellow Israelites haven’t yet trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and haven’t yet acknowledged him as the Messiah.  Paul’s burning passion and purpose in life was to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth, despite the cost and the challenges.  Paul was a man who was consumed with a vision of spiritual revolution in his time and culture.

But Paul also was consumed by his responsibility to do the dishes.  That is, he understood the importance of living in the here and now in what he called in Philippians the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus.  Paul knew that the revolution would only come about through obedience in the small things, and making intimacy with God the primary focus of his life. 

In Romans 11:33-35, he wrote these words:

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!
'Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?' 

'Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?'
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Did you notice the language that Paul uses here?  It’s rich and wonderful and speaks deeply to us in the everyday-ness of our lives. 

God’s wisdom and knowledge are deep riches!  We don’t get wisdom and knowledge by always being busy and thinking about the next big thing.  We get the wisdom and knowledge of God by seeking Him daily in prayer and Bible study and fellowship with other believers.  We get wisdom and knowledge of God by living for Him and His glory in the everyday things that are before us – the dish washing, the ditch digging, the teaching and loving and serving. We get satisfaction from living obediently to God right here and right now. 

He closes by expressing a reality that I struggle to grasp: In God is everything that I need!  If I can’t find everything I need in God, and can’t find satisfaction and joy in the small, everyday, ordinary things, and living a life of quiet obedience, I’m never going to find it in the big things.  In fact, chances are, that if we can’t do this in the small things, God will never even give us opportunities to be faithful in the big things. 

In my Twitter feed, I follow quite a few Christian leaders and pastors.  One of them is Dr. Tim Keller, who has been a faithful pastor and church leader for decades.  This morning, he shared this thought: “Everybody has something, that if they lose it, they won't even want to live life anymore. That is what you're worshiping.”

What are you worshipping today?  Chances are, many of us are worshipping a vision for our lives that is not of God.  Where has God called you to serve Him and love Him today?  Are you satisfied with that?  Or are you worshipping a vision of a revolution?  Maybe you’re worshipping a vision of more stuff, prestige and titles.  Maybe you’re worshipping a vision for you life that has nothing to do with having Jesus at the center of it.  If you lose the vision you’re worshipping, or if it never comes to fruition, you’re going to be sadly disappointed. 

But when we bow in worship to King Jesus; when we quiet ourselves to drink deeply from the wells of his wisdom and knowledge; and learn to be satisfied with Him and all that is in Him, we will never be disappointed.  We’ll be perfectly content doing the dishes, knowing that we are doing it for His glory and for His Kingdom.