One of my favorite leadership books is Henry & Richard Blackably’s “Spiritual Leadership.”  Near the end of the book as the authors are wrapping up they make this statement:

• “No other reward could possibly equal the joy that comes from knowing almighty God is pleased with you and what you have done with your life.”

Today I sense the Holy Spirit instructing me to remind you that being faithful to your calling and your chores pleases Him.

Whether in full-time ministry or a “weekend warrior” none of us have the luxury of doing only “spiritual work”.  Every week brings with it the duties and chores of everyday life.  We all have to earn our keep.  We all have to take out the trash, refuel the car, cut the grass, wash the dishes and dirty cloths, make up the beds, etc., etc., etc….

For the dedicated preacher and teacher this constant tension between fulfilling our calling and taking care of the chores of life can really be a real challenge.  While working on our dishwater hands what we’d rather be doing is working on our next sermon or lesson.  While spending our day trying to get through the rat race, what we’d rather be doing is spending our day doing really righteous things.

However, today I want to encourage you to fight the “I should be doing more for God” syndrome.  Sure, you could always be studying more, praying more, preaching more and teaching more.  But is that what God requires?

I am reminded of Shamgar: ever heard of him?  He was one of the judges of Israel and yet his entire life and ministry is summed up in one verse (Judges 3:31).  We know virtually nothing about his ministry, his tenure, or his contributions to God’s people.  There is only one thing that we have a record of him doing: at a very desperate hour in Israel’s history Shamgar stepped up and did what he could.  All those years of being faithful in the drudgery of duty set him up to be used by God to turn the tide of history for God’s people.  God was so pleased that he deemed Shamgar worthy to be included with the leaders of Israel – God was pleased with what Shamgar had done with his life.

The same can be true for you.  You are not in the batter’s box every day.  The game is not on the line with every decision.  Every moment of your life is not about big, major eternal issues.  Most days you’re in preparation mode.  Most days you’re just trying to stay ahead of the debt and tax collector and trying to keep food on the table and cleaning up the food that fell on the floor.

Bottom line, ministry is not about being behind the pulpit or lectern every moment of every day.  Sure, I suppose you could always do more “spiritual stuff” but believe me, God is just as pleased with you as you faithfully fulfill your chores as when you faithfully fulfill your calling.

When you look back over your day, week, year…life and ask yourself, “What have I done with my life?”  If you can say, I did what was required and I did it for the glory of God…then God is pleased and so should you.