I hate mowing the lawn. Actually, “hate” isn’t a strong enough word for how I feel. When Bethany and I got married 6 years ago, we bought a cute house with a postage-stamp size lawn. Even though it only took me 20 minutes to mow, I despised every second of it. We bought our second house in Virginia, which had a lawn about 2 times the size of our previous one. Those 40 minutes were the worst ones of my week (or my month when I was too lazy). Then we moved back to Fort Wayne and bought a house with a half-acre lot. I assume by now you can imagine how I feel about mowing a lawn that size.
One day, while I was in the middle of mowing our half-acre lot with a $125 push mower (not even a walk-behind mind you), I convinced myself that it was worth the investment to buy a riding mower. Practically everyone on our street & in our neighborhood had one and I reasoned it would save me tons of time & bellyaching. Bethany was even onboard with the purchase, which was a miracle in itself.
A few weeks later, I was mowing the lawn again with my push mower with a new found excitement knowing that this might be one of the last times I had to suffer through this horrible chore. I still remember where I was when the revelation hit me. I was about half way through mowing the back yard when I realized that mowing the lawn was the only thing in my life that I didn’t enjoy. I loved my job, my house, my wife, my car, even my in-laws! In a deeper way I realized how many blessings God had given me. And here I was reasoning that I could spend my way out of the only annoying thing in my life at that time. I suddenly realized that I didn’t need a bigger, better, faster lawnmower, I needed to have something in my life that I hated to do. And I needed to find joy in doing it.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Would it be possible to turn my tedious chore into a way to glorify God? Could mowing my lawn become an act of worship?
After I finished mowing, I went inside and told Bethany that I wasn’t going to buy a riding lawn mower. I knew that if I didn’t tell her right away, I would probably talk myself out of my decision.
There’s something about us that hates inconvenience. For some reason, we think that we’re entitled to constant convenience. But most of the time, the Christian walk is anything but convenient. We’re called to love those who hate us; to pray for those who persecute us; to give money generously; to turn the other cheek; to be patient in sufferings; to endure hardship; to not complain; to be satisfied with little or plenty; to give up control and bow our knee to the Lordship of Jesus. Do I need to go on? The Christian life is extremely inconvenient to our flesh. But it’s how we embrace these “inconveniences” that helps starve our flesh and feed our spirit. Worshipping in the midst of hardship & inconvenience deeply touches the heart of God. If we are going to grow and continue to be conformed to the image of Jesus, we must learn to do everything for the glory of God.
Instead of always trying to get rid of the things we hate to do, maybe we should embrace them as an opportunity to allow God to change us through doing them.
It’s been a year since I made my big decision and I’m still mowing with my push mower. Honestly, I’ve made a little progress in my attitude, but not as much as I would have hoped. I’m still in the middle of learning this lesson.
Bethany and I hope someday to be able to move out to the country and have several acres of land. Hopefully I’ll learn my lesson by then. The thought of push mowing several acres of lawn makes me shudder; but probably makes God smile.
Feel free to leave a comment below to start some conversations
Wise words. Learning to lose our “need” for convenience is a way to resist the dominant culture around us and reminds us that as believers we are not of this world. Our brothers and sisters in the Corinthian church were doing the same as they resisted the idol worship in their city. Humbling our attitude in the way you describe will help us relate to others who struggle and suffer in the world, and reminds us that the ways of the Lord’s Kingdom are different.
Dave, good lesson. Jesus said if we want to folow Him we are to: deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Truth is, we find it easier to take up a cross than to deny ourselves. In our culture, we hardly ever deny ourseves ANYTHING, because things come so much easier than in past generations, and we somehow feel we deserve to reward ourselves when the least little thing goes right. We live cushy lives! We don’t even realize it. If we, as Jesus’ followers, would get better at denying ourselves, I believe we would walk in greater spiritual power and authority. Thanks for sharing your life lesson with us!
Kevin<
Thanks Dave! I needed this today!
Sometimes the growth comes in small steps. Rather than just wanting to find joy in mowing the lawn, start with one reason for being thankful for this. Then, take your time and find four more. By the time you truly have five reasons to be thankful you’re mowing your lawn, you’ll have a new attitude. It’s worked for me again and again.
I used to feel exactly the same way about mowing my lawn – until my father-in-law became very ill. He can barely walk and get around his house now. One of the things he said struck me in a powerful way. He said, “I’ll never be able to mow my lawn again!”
I thought to myself how much God has blessed me – with a beautiful house (and yard), with “free time” to do jobs like mowing, and with a healthy body to do so. Now when I mow I try to remember how God much God has blessed me and thank Him as I walk behing my mower. I also realized that this is a great time for prayer!
NOW I know why you won’t get a rider. If you really want to change your attitude, come cut my lawn and I’ll give you a few other jobs!
Just kidding, man. Good point. Good lesson. But to balance out, you don’t have to make yourself feel bad with something that you really don’t have to do in the way that irritates you. Love ya, man!
David, Do you remember begging and pleading to mow the lawn when you were 8 or 9 years old? In our family you had to wait until you were 10 to start mowing and you could hardly wait! Later you even accepted money from Jon and Kara to mow for them when it was one of their turns!
I will remember the words of this devotion when I have a task which I find tedious and not much fun, and I will remember to thank my Lord for all the blessings He has given me.