40acts: The Lent Generosity Challengeናሙና

Jesus didn’t come to earth as a triumphant, all-conquering King as expected by the Jews, or as a militant zealot ready to rid his country of the hated Roman occupying force. He came as a servant-hearted human being, washing feet, healing the sick and spending time with those on the margins of society.

Mark 10:44 reminds us that even He did not come to be served, but to serve. Such a counter-cultural way of looking at life is one of the ways we can reflect God’s generosity to us.

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There’s a cheeky sign above one of the kitchen sinks in my office which always makes me laugh, ‘The maid is off today. So please do your own washing up’, because I agree that it’s infuriating to see dirty crockery and cutlery in the sink at work. I can’t believe that anyone would think such behaviour was acceptable – to leave items in the hopes that someone else can do your dirty work. 

On the days when I arrive at work already shattered from having successfully got a toddler dressed, fed and off to a childminder before commuting in, the sight of these abandoned plates and mugs makes me despair. But on my most generous days – I might take the time to quietly wash these dishes rather than huff and puff and think bad thoughts about my colleagues. 

Doing small, good deeds without ceremony and without thanks is not only the kind thing to do, but it feels good too. But this is not about being ‘holier than thou’ – a saintly washer-upper. Instead, I would like to think that someone would do this for me. It reminds me that I too – literally – mess up sometimes. For all have sinned and left their washing up in the sink. I am no better than anyone else.

Christ’s suggestion that we should be servant-hearted in this way is what makes the Christian faith so radical. What a wonderful thing it is to think about others more than you think about yourself, and reflect the radical generosity of our Creator God.

Crumbs on the counter. Dirty mugs. Someone else’s dishes in the office sink for days. What an opportunity for day-to-day, ongoing generosity – dull, grey acts of kindness that don’t get you any Brownie points. 

Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog:   

https://40acts.org.uk/act-13-needs-must/