TRAGICALLY A TRAVESTY... DO YOU LOVE DISHES TOO?
It was a mistake. As you can clearly see… this picture exemplifies a very bleak pre-Jesus attitude. However this picture is just the precursor to the main event, a great mistake. I think it is pretty obvious how “doing dishes” rates on the list of “fun” things to do in this picture!
This picture must have been taken shortly before my great faux pas. One day, while being tasked with these dreaded dishes… I voiced my frustration and complained that dishes were... (insert dramatic pause here)... "Women’s work.” You can imagine what happens next!
This slip of the tongue (and revealing of my heart) did not end so well. Of all the disciplinary action taken by my father … I can hardly remember any examples that were ever so swift. At the time, no punishment ever seemed harsher. I ended up doing ALL the dishes BY MYSELF for an entire week as discipline for my slip of the tongue.
Now that may seem like a light sentence now, but I HATED doing dishes, with a passion! So this was about the worst thing that could be done in terms of punishment! Never again should I consider myself above doing any task. However, more importantly, this situation revealed a heart condition that needed to be addressed. Did a week of dishes instantaneously fix it? Not really, but it did help me begin to question the condition of my heart.
Romans 12:3 reminds us:
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
How often do I think of myself more highly than I ought to? It is selfish. It reveals a conceited heart. It does not ooze true love. In fact, such an attitude is despised and hated. Hypocrites are not loving! Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. None of us are above an introspective life. Yet often we are blind to our own shortcomings. How can we know? Who can tell us?
Many people can train the actions... but only God can change the heart. Perhaps this story should have been titled "Train vs. Change - Who Can Fix A Broken Heart?" because that seems to be the lingering question. Anyone can do dishes... even train themselves to do their dishes with a smile, yet that can hardly be considered an authentic change of heart.
The most difficult part is belief. God alone enables our ability to believe. John Chapter 3 discusses belief. When we believe and accept God's gracious gift of salvation... only then can we experience this change of heart. That requires faith ... which is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you cannot see. Living out true authentic love, requires more than just doing the dishes... it requires a change of heart. Not simply a trained heart... but a changed heart.
