What’s the Point
I was conversing with a young man the other morning, and we got to discussing those seemingly insignificant menial tasks that inundate our lives. There are dishes, laundry, vacuuming, regular cleaning, and many other tasks that need to be consistently completed. Not to mention that each task will need to be completed again in less than a week. Isn’t laundry the worst? I saw a sign once that I thought perfectly conveyed the concept of laundry. It said, laundry: wash 1-2 hours, drying 1 hour, folding and putting away, 3-5 business days. Can you relate? I know I can. Life can be pretty challenging, and when you face a constant barrage of ‘to-dos’, you can quickly wonder, what’s the point?
The Mandate
When God created this abundant earth and placed the first two humans in the garden, he gave a mandate. He told Adam and Eve that they should be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over it (Gen. 1:28). God gave an explicit mandate that the viceregents he created in his image should steward his creation in accordance with his character. Many can argue that this command is a far cry from what actually takes place on the earth, and to some extent, I might agree, but that is also a far cry from the purpose of this post. Irrespective of this, God’s temporary accreditation of his people as ambassadors to his glorious work calls into question the menial.
The Purpose & The Menial
Before the fall in Gen. 3, God gave his people work to do, and they did it with joyful anticipation of producing an impact for his glory. Work is a good thing. God created work as a means of production and purpose in the lives of mankind. Everything we are given to do in this life, in one sense, is placed by God, and for that reason alone, has inherent purpose. If you face an onslaught of subpar (by some arbitrary standard) to-dos, it is not because there is no purpose in them; it is because you misplace the purpose.
Take, for example, all those menial tasks, yelling your name as you step through the door. Like carnivorous monsters, each chore seeks to feast upon your spent energy. The floor cries out, “Clean me!” The dishwasher beckons you to, “fill and run me!” “Vacuum me!” comes the holler from the bedrooms, and laundry chastens you to “Wash, dry, and for goodness sake, put me away before seven days have passed.”
Do the Hard Thing
No doubt you need to rest and relax. After all, these chores will gladly wait around until you’re ready. Yet if you find that the small things are starting to feel meaningless, perhaps evaluate where you place purpose. In this life, there are two options: there is a God, or there is no God. If there is no God, then, like Paul said, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32). However, if there is a God, then everything in his creation has purpose, even the small menial tasks that seem utterly insignificant. Therefore, you must do the hard thing and evaluate where you place purpose. When meaning comes from the infinite God in whose image you were created, even something as simple and repetitive as a 7-day-long laundry cycle has purpose when done for his glory.
Meaningful Writing
I often think about writing as one of those difficult things. It requires planning, focus, and consistency. Sometimes, it can feel menial and without purpose, especially when you have been at it for countless earthly revolutions. Here is where the question matters. Where are you finding the purpose in writing? I write stories that have a positive impact on my readers. The purpose comes from seeking to honor the one who gave me life, and this amazingly over-illustrious imagination. Writing comes with a lot of headaches. There are numerous edits and rewrites to complete. Writers consider beta reader feedback. We may have to adjust a character or remove them completely. I must do the hard thing and push through the menial to produce something meaningful, because purpose is found in being a good steward of what God has given. So writer, I say to you, do the hard thing and write on! What seemingly insignificant things do you face as a Christian writer? Let me know.
