EquippedMama

Does this sound familiar?

A few weeks ago, I prepared my two-year-old and my newborn to travel to the adjacent town for a women’s Bible study. I had started preparing the night before, laying out my bag so that we could be out the door by 8:30. Somehow we were running on schedule(ish) and as we pulled into the church parking lot, I was congratulating myself that we were on time. I thought I was supermom.

Then it happened.

My daughter threw up.

I stood there and tried to convince myself that somehow we could still go in. But when she started crying (and I called my husband who agreed that, yes, a vomiting child is a good reason to forego study) we piled back into the slightly vomit-stained truck and pretended Bible study never happened. I was crushed. All that hard work and I ended up back on the couch, feeding my baby and washing yet another load of laundry.

But in that moment, the Lord reminded me of a verse all mothers need to have stamped on their minds-it comes from Matthew 25:40, “just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.”

My husband has important work. His job daily increases people’s quality of live and ability to have independence. My brother has important work. He fights fires and responds to emergency situations. At times, I struggle to believe that my work is important. Any moms agree? But in this revelation of serving “the least of these” I began to re-discover the value that my work has, too. Let’s look at this verse in context.

Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40 NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C

In this passage, Jesus tells us of the judgement, where our actions are called into account. Although we are saved only by believing in the sacrifice of Jesus for us, in this passage Jesus exhorts those who know the Lord to act in a certain way. Serving, meeting needs, caring for others. These righteous people respond asking when they met the needs of the king. To this question, he answers that when they served the least of these brothers or sisters of his, they served him.

What precipitates this parable?

Stewardship.

In the verses immediately before this parable, Jesus tells of servants entrusted with talents, (a form of currency) who were allotted different amounts but all judged on what they did with the talents. For the one who had a few, he was praised for doubling those few. For the one with many, he was celebrated when he returned many more. Only the one who did nothing with his talent is reprimanded and thrown away from the presence of his master.

So what? I believe there is reason that these passages go side by side. As we consider the talents that the Lord has given us, these might be in the form of our assets, our employment, or our children. We are expected to steward what we have in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. We are accountable for what we have been given.

At the same time, we are called to be servants. We are called to, like Jesus, be willing to wash feet (or change diapers) with love, for the sake of Christ. I don’t know about you, but that realization gives my understanding of my work real value, direction, and worth. I think often I get frustrated when my mothering seems inconsequential. Mundane. Routine. However, when I realize that my work is to honor the Lord, and to give him back the best return on the talents he has given me, my attitude changes.

Suddenly, if I change messy diapers every half hour, or spend twice the time I anticipated breastfeeding, it is not an inconvenience, it is an act of service to the King. If I take the time to redirect a child in love, or spend the energy to once more read a story to an inquisitive mind it is out of love for the Lord. Suddenly what I do matters.

If you offer your work as a mother to the Lord as a sacrifice and a return on the talents he has given you, your work matters.

Let these verses encourage you in the worth of your work, and in every diaper or snacktime, offer your talents to the Lord.

P.S. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song I think ties in well. Enjoy. 🙂