Whatever

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

There’s probably a woman out there who loves folding laundry and scrubbing dirty dishes, but I am not that woman. I don’t naturally love cleaning and picking up every single day. With five people under one roof, our home gets messy faster than a dog goes after a bone. Sometimes it feels like food and toys get strewn across the floor the moment I finish picking up and vacuuming!

Why do I even clean? I often grumble to myself. It’s just going to get messy in another minute.

It may feel like an exercise in futility, but there’s a reason for doing these mundane tasks—one that’s deeper than having a spotless home. It’s all about a little word in Colossians 3:17 and 23: whatever.

In this passage, Paul is writing to the church at Colossae, instructing them in the glorious ways of Christ. He begins his letter by laying out why Christ is worthy of all praise (see Colossians 1:13-22). Then he tells them specific ways they can practically live for God’s glory since they have “put off” the old self and “put on” their new self in Christ (Colossians 3:9-10).

We are to get dressed in the gospel each day and preach this awe-inspiring truth to our hearts: “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). Paul goes on to say, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (verse 17, emphasis added). This is a lofty calling. Could he really mean that?

Whatever includes everything. It includes doing the dishes, and it includes picking up toys for the thousandth time. It includes folding countless loads of laundry every week, and it includes vacuuming, grocery shopping, and being a shuttle service. It includes responding to emails, driving in traffic, and dealing with difficult coworkers. This little word whatever not only redeems the time spent doing the mundane tasks of life but also gives us greater purpose and joy in doing them. If we look at daily housework, errands, and assignments simply as chores to be completed, we will miss out on something glorious: knowing Jesus better through them.

Worship isn’t just relegated to Sunday morning church or a daily quiet time. Worship is adoring Jesus every moment of the day, including the moments when we’re doing tasks we don’t necessarily love to do.

Even the mundane moments of life have meaning and purpose. No task is exempt from the holy call of doing everything for the glory of God. Jesus makes your “whatever” worthwhile.

The unfiltered, unfancy moments of life are made beautiful when we recognize that God’s fingerprints are all over these minuscule moments. We just need eyes to see him at work all around us and within us.

The key to finding joy and purpose in the mundane is to remember the call of “whatever” and to do everything with Jesus and for him. Paying bills, cleaning out the car, inputting data into a spreadsheet all become joy-filled worship when done to the glory of God. Scrubbing dishes is redeemed when we praise him as we clean each dish.

He can redeem every chore on your agenda today—even that umpteenth load of laundry.

Word before World Even the most mundane tasks can become sweet times of worship when done for the glory of God.

Grow in Grace Whatever you are doing today, whether it’s ironing shirts, folding laundry, cleaning, punching the clock, or chasing little ones, do it for the Lord. The next time you find yourself grumbling about a mindless task, picture Jesus meeting you in that mundane moment.