LET GOD DRY THE DISHES

Growing up I had a sister, Judy, who was 4 years younger than me.  She died of cancer at the age of 33 but I have many fond memories of her.  One is of us washing and drying the dishes.  I always had to wash and she had to dry, but when it came time to dry it seems she always had to go to the bathroom and didn’t come back until the dishes air dried and just had to be put away.  Like any normal big brother I’d get a glass of water and pour it over the dishes so she wouldn’t get out of her job.  She wasn’t thrilled when I did that.

I enjoy washing dishes now.  I can see quick, positive results, and I like having my hands in hot water.  What I don’t like doing is drying the dishes I wash.  After all, God set up this wonderful principle of nature called evaporation and will dry the dishes for me if I am just patient for a few minutes.  Perhaps God just wants to teach me patience.  But sometimes I wonder if I am being lazy and waiting for God to do for me what I should be doing for myself – I do have a habit of doing that, you know.

How do YOU know when God wants you to wait patiently for Him to act in His own time and way, or when He wants you to act right away and use your time to accomplish something?  How do you know the difference between patiently trusting God and being lazy and putting something off?  How do you know when your actions are done to please God, or when you are taking things into your own hands because God isn’t acting fast enough?

I’d really like to hear your insight and opinions on this.  Email me at jerry@schmoyer.  I’d like to share some of your comments with others in a future blog but won’t use your name.  Let me know if you’d rather I didn’t.

Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.

Proverbs 6:9-11  How long will you lie there, O sluggard?  When will you arise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Ask God to show you if you are lazy and putting of some things you should be doing.  Ask Him to show you if you are too quick to act on your own and lacking in patience and trust in Him.  Write down what He shows you.