The Menial, Ordinary, and Mundane

2 Kings 5:13

And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

This verse struck me in my Bible reading the other day. How aptly it describes human nature! How often we long to do great things and ignore the simple tasks God has placed right in front of us. This verse especially stood out to me because recently, I read this quote in a novel and was amazed by it: “All of us would like to believe that we could accomplish one brave, selfless act for God and for His kingdom. But it takes greater courage to faithfully accomplish the daily, thankless tasks for Him.”

In all actuality, that statement could not be truer! We live in a world that magnifies courageous exploits and often passes over the “daily grind” of everyday life. But God works differently from the world. He sees and honors all the little tasks done for Him–sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, playing a board game with a pleading child, and changing a baby’s diaper. Sometimes, that is even more precious to Him than doing something the world would consider a great deed.

“It takes greater courage to faithfully accomplish the daily, thankless tasks for Him.” Indeed, because magnificent achievements often get rewarded, and there is satisfaction in completing them. But the mundane chores of home life are not always noticed or appreciated; therefore, it is sometimes harder to do them consistently.

The verse from 2 Kings that I posted above is a great summary of this. Naaman came to Elisha the prophet, longing for healing from the deadly disease of leprosy. But when Elisha commanded him to wash in the Jordan, Naaman balked. This is when his servants told him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

Naaman would rather have done something great for his healing. At the very least, he wanted to wash in one of the great rivers of his homeland, not the dirty Jordan River. We often feel the same way–we think that great things are the things that matter the most, the things that are most important, and we would usually rather do those things than menial everyday tasks.

But often, God calls us to the everyday; to the menial; to the ordinary; to the mundane. And these things are extremely important to God! Let us not overlook or shun the everyday tasks, longing for “greatness.” Instead, let us value them and do them as unto the Lord, knowing that true greatness in God’s eyes is obedience–whether He calls one to receive a gold medal for Him or clean the bathroom for Him. If He called us to do something amazing, would we not do it? How much more then, when He calls us to clean the house?

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.