[moldbreakers]

I hate doing the dishes.

Some of you just nodded your heads as you read those words.

There’s nothing more crushing to my soul than to walk in the kitchen and see dirty dishes piling up in the sink. It brings grown man tears to my eyes. It happened to me today. I know I need to do them, but do I really have the time? Do I have the energy? Can someone else less busy do them? I’d rather not be bothered. Because if I’m in the kitchen, it’s probably for a good reason, usually to cook something to eat or because I just finished eating – so the last thing I need to be bothered with are dirty dishes in my way.

They’re probably not even my dishes.

AND THEY’VE PROBABLY BEEN THERE FOR WEEKS.

(Disgusting.)

Not my problem.

These were my thoughts as those grown man tears hit my eyeballs and I crookedly stared at the sink, while contemplating turning around and ignoring the issue. But then God decided to teach me a lesson.

And I got to thinking that – if I’m honest – I’m too much of a “not my problem” kind-of-guy. And I began to realize that this is much bigger than a few (a bunch) of dirty dishes in my kitchen sink.

There are many issues I come into contact with on a daily basis that I know I should do something about, but I am too preoccupied or stretched for time to stop and take care of it. I write them off as if they aren’t my problem.

But it is – they are – my problem. The dishes are in my way, stopping me from cooking (one of the few meals I know how to cook) and moving on with my evening. And they’re probably leaving a slightly rancid smell permeating through my entire house.

So they are my problem. Just like:

My brother in Christ who is struggling with his walk is my problem.

My friends in an unhealthy relationship are my problem.

The homeless man on the side of the road who begs for money day-after-day is my problem.

Unreached people groups are my problem.

The dishes are my problem.

These are all issues that start out as a small eyesore but, if we aren’t careful, we may become blind to. And while we are blind to them, the really are destructive and hazardous to the world around us – and especially to the body of Christ. But there is good news.

See, Jesus changes the way I look at my problems. Jesus already took care of sin and its result when he gave up his life for us on the cross. That was (past tense!) our biggest problem. And now, he is able, through his mighty power at work within us as believers, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Eph. 3:20). How do I know? The body of Christ is just that – one body, all connected together by Christ, living and operating as a unit destined to bring him glory. So I either should be serving that body and those people, or serving those people that don’t know Christ in an effort to show them the love of the One, True God.

At the end of the day, the dishes are a small indication of my bigger heart issue. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I should be inclined to serve first, no matter what else is going on around me, and no matter how big or small the concern. Bottom Line: I don’t want to be bothered; I want the dishes to be done by someone else, for my benefit.

But as a rule (for me, personally) if that’s the case, then I need to go ahead and take care of it. And if I can’t, then the course of action is taking the issue to the Lord consistently through prayer and asking him about what steps to take. If we would work together selflessly and for God’s glory, imagine what Jesus would do through us. Sure, we often want to take care of ourselves first, but is that really our calling?

Right now, I think some dirty dishes are calling my name.

Luke 6:31-37: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.