Discover Joy in Serving Your Spouse Daily - Crosswalk PLUS Marriage Devotional
Discover Joy in Serving Your Spouse Daily
By: Michelle Lazurek
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Colossians 3:23
Sorting through mountains of clean yet unfolded laundry, wading through a sink full of dirty dishes, and wiping crumbs off the counter, I was growing resentful. As someone who hates cleaning, it is easier for me to complain without having to clean up. But it is incredibly irritating when I have to clean up after my children and husband, who are more than capable of cleaning up after themselves. It makes me feel like a maid, their servant, to do menial tests at their commands.
One day, I put my earbuds in and listened to music as I cleaned. But soon, I heard the still, small voice of God whispered to my heart:
"Work for me, not for them."
At that moment, I realized something. God was pleased when I did those menial tasks serving my family; he saw it as an act of worship toward him. I had never seen doing chores as worshipping the Lord. When the Lord spoke to my heart, he clarified that I demonstrate my love for the Lord by doing even the most humbling, menial task.
I wish I could say that my attitude has changed and I love cleaning now because it gives me a chance to serve the Lord. But my heart has softened toward the tasks. In Genesis, God calls Eve Adam's "helpmate." This means a wife will help her husband during their marriage in various areas of his life. In the same way, I need to help my husband by performing these chores because he is hard at work all day and is tired when he comes home.
Washing his clothes, doing the dishes, or cleaning the counter gives him the resources to return and work another long, hard day. Instead of thinking of it as a chore or something I must do, God has changed my heart to see it as something I get to do. Now, when I do chores, I see them more as a way to express gratitude for God's abundance rather than as a way to complain about how demeaning they make me feel.
When I clean clothes, I thank the Lord that we have clothes on our backs.
When I do a load of dishes, it reminds me of how many people are homeless and hungry on the streets.
When I clean the bathroom, I am grateful I have indoor plumbing and sanitation so I can practice good hygiene when necessary.
These may seem like conveniences rather than essentials, but it changes my heart when I think about all the people who don't have what I have. I no longer feel angry about cleaning up after my husband. Instead, I see it as an act of servanthood, a way to surrender my life to the Lord and be grateful for all he's given me.
When I perform these menial tasks, I am humbled that God chose me to steward these luxuries for his glory. In doing so, I worship him to the best of my ability.
Analyze your heart. Does serving your husband make you feel resentful when you should be grateful? A slight shift towards humility can help change anyone's heart. Change your perspective and serve your husband in a way that not only exudes humility but also allows you to worship the Lord.
Father, let us be spouses that serve each other each day. Change our hearts from resentment and anger to gratitude and praise. Please help us know that when we do these things, it not only stewards the gifts you've given us well, but it also is an act of worship. By humbling ourselves and serving our spouses, we serve as the mirror to Christ in the church. A marriage wrapped in servanthood is a marriage that will survive the toughest circumstances to come. Amen.
Application Steps:
Discover ways to make serving your husband more bearable. For example, set a timer and choose to do chores for 30 minutes. To do the most demanding tasks first, make it a game and see how many chores you can get done in half an hour.
Put on your favorite music and crank the tunes. Have fun and see how much the Lord changes your heart as you do chores for your spouse.
We hope you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged by today's devotional! For more of this premium marriage devotional, visit here.
