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Reliable vs. Religious

Until not too long ago, mothers and grandmothers wore aprons over their clothes. The apron’s purpose was to protect the beautiful dress underneath, as each woman only had a few. It was easier to wash aprons than dresses, and aprons used less fabric. But aprons had so many uses. They were used as potholders, tissues, dust rags, washcloths, baskets, sacks, and even shelter from the rain. One might wonder how many germs filled an apron by the end of the day, but aprons were made to get dirty. Dresses, on the other hand, were more ornamental and less functional. Anything that messed a dress up defeated its purpose, whereas getting messy was the apron’s purpose.

As Christians, we are called to be aprons, not dresses. We are called to hold, to support, to clean up, to dry tears, to provide shelter, to protect, and to comfort. Jesus calls us to get dirty, to get messy, to get uncomfortable. In fact, those who just stood around the temple adorned in their fancy, religious clothing were rebuked by Jesus. Read Matthew 23:1-7. Jesus rebuked the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees, stating that they “crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden" (NLT).

On the other hand, Jesus commended the widow who gave her last mite, those who fed the poor, and those who took care of the widows and the orphans. In fact, those whom Jesus commended for doing things in His Name did so outside the church walls. Jesus regarded the reliable over the religious. The regular over the regal. The aprons over the dresses. The Biblical direction to go and do, and not just sit and be, still stands today. Are we willing to obey the highest calling to serve others? The call to be an apron can be difficult and messy, but our obedience gleans eternal rewards.

Reflect: Are you seen and recognized as someone willing to do anything to help, even if it is “dirty work”? List some things you have done in the past year that were “apron” work, where you didn’t get paid, or maybe even noticed.

Respond: What are some things you can offer to do at church, in your kids’ schools, and/or in your community as an apron?

Repent: If you have only been available to do the work that gets recognition, whether it be advertising your good deeds on social media, doing the “humble brag” in social circles, or avoiding “dirty” work, pray and ask for forgiveness. Ask the Lord to renew your heart so that the need to be noticed for good deeds goes away.

Resolve: Pick one “dirty” job of service that you are going to sign up to help with or do within the next month. Resolve not to advertise that you did it, and lean into serving others with a humble heart and no recognition.