Toilets

Routine?  Totally gone.  Bedtimes?  Null and void.  Cleaning?  Ahhhh, yes.  All the reasons for weekly cleaning such as a friend, family member, or the ultra-serious mother in law visit – no longer an issue.  Thanks, Covid 19.  But my toilet is dirty.  And because I’m not on my usual routine, I didn’t even realize how bad it was, until I saw how bad it was. 
 
This got me thinking (and cleaning!) about what else I had become lazy about.  I let the weekly bible study that I was participating in slip.  I stopped diligently reading my verse of the day sent by You Version.  I even stopped listening to worship music (not in the car anymore, so its not default behavior).  Actually, I can’t remember the last time I truly sang to my Lord and Savior.  I have been diligent in prayer… that has become much more of a regular habit and dependence.  But one area of faithfulness does not account for slacking in the others.
 
Proverbs 20:6 – “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy (faithful) man?”
 
Matthew 25:21 – “His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
 
Luke 16:10 – “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
 
But what is faithful?
1.  loyal, constant, and steadfast.
2.  true to the facts or the original.
According to the internet, this is a definition.  But what are the facts?  Not just prayer.  The facts aren’t only in the conversation.  The facts are in His Word.  In truth.  The original is in the bible.  Are we focused on that?  I haven’t been.  So, what now?  Well, if I am only speaking something through breath but not through action… I may as well be whistling a happy tune as the ship goes down (or violining, aka “Titanic”).
 
1 Cor. 13:1, while not entirely in context here, does express support of the theory.  If all I am doing is blowing hot air at God as I declare my love, what is really happening?  Love is in the doing.  The action.  My pastor used to say for demonstration, “If a man said, ‘I told you once I loved you… why isn’t that enough’ ” again, slightly out of context, yet still relevant.  How are we expressing our love/ faithfulness to God?  In the lack of certain physical accountabilities, have you slacked?  Because I know I have.  And there is no shame in the knowing… just do something different!  Shame is something that the enemy wants to keep you in… make you live there.  Shame is not from our Lord.  Our Lord says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.   All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.   For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
 
Rest- ease of burden?  No shame in that.  I can absolutely accept those terms.  However, what will I do because of the terms?  I’m not going to whistle or play violin on the deck of the ship that we all know sinks…. So perhaps I need to refocus my efforts; or call it priorities.  God, family, then others.  Don’t misplace where the placement should be. 
He is always faithful.  But the question is, what am I doing?