Racing To Clean The House (Mark 10:45)

My parents divorced when I was 13 years old and during my high school years, I lived with my father. He was adamant that if I were to live with him, I would learn to cook, clean the house, and do the laundry. At first, it was just another chore. But as the weeks passed and I saw how hard my father was working as a single dad to support me, I wanted to ease the responsibilities and pressures he was enduring. We usually cleaned the house together on Thursday afternoons.  One Wednesday afternoon, I came home early from school and thought it would be nice to clean the house alone and give him a break. When my father came home that night, he was very appreciative and I was beaming over the opportunity to help him. For the next few months, I made sure I came home early on Wednesday afternoons to clean the house alone. Then one week, something odd occurred. I came home at my usual time on a Tuesday afternoon and found the house cleaned. I went upstairs and saw my dad finishing the cleaning. Seeing me, he smiled and said, “Ahh, you caught me!”

I was confused. “What’s going on, Dad?”

“You’ve been coming home early these past few months to clean the house alone and help me out, so I thought I would surprise you and come home one day before you did and clean!”

That did it! The next week, I came home early on a Monday afternoon and cleaned the house before he arrived home. A few weeks later, my dad returned the favor and cleaned the house on a Sunday afternoon, when I was out playing with my friends.

We were both racing to out serve one another!

Finally, he put a stop to this. “This is silly! We’re both trying to clean the house and be nice to each other. Let’s just decide on one day and clean the house together again.”

We both agreed, but I never forgot the kindness and sacrifices my father made for me as I was growing up with him.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 (ESV)

My experience with my father prepared me for my life as a believer in Jesus Christ. Just as I was racing to clean the house to serve my father out of gratitude for what he did for me, my goal as a Christian should be to outdo others and serve them with gratitude for what Jesus did for me. Jesus died on the Cross, bearing the punishment for my sins. I will never forget this. Jesus served others first. I should do the same.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.