Chasing Donkeys

Have you ever stopped to think about what you are doing? And come to think of it, what you have done, and currently doing, is not that glamorous. In fact, you would consider your life mundane, commonplace, routine, possibly even boring. You work 9-5, or are a stay-at-home mom (which is full-time work), run the kids around, run errands, attend meetings, cook, eat, clean, do house and yard work, exercise, pay your bills, attend church, and take a vacation once or twice a year. When you compare your life to many narratives in Scripture of how God mightily used individuals, and when you compare your life to many of the stories celebrated within Christian circles, you begin to wonder if your life is really making any difference. You wonder if you are at the place doing what God wants you to do.

For those in the ministry maybe your compare yourself to many of the celebrities in Scripture as well as many of the Christians celebrities of the great Reformation, Great Awakenings, or church growth era. In comparing yourself to them and your ministry, there is a tendency to become somewhat discouraged and depressed, wondering if you are really making a dent in the world. You are tempted to see your ministry as commonplace, mundane—not that glamorous.

I want to propose a term for those who think their life (or ministry) is mundane, commonplace, routine, possibly (to some extent) boring—not all that glamorous. The term I would give that is “chasing donkeys.” Have you ever gone out to chase a donkey. I didn’t think so. But, if you did you wouldn’t think that was very glamorous. It wouldn’t be something everyone would want to do, and if they did it probably would get old really fast. In fact, chasing donkeys maybe something reserved for Mike Rowe (the guy on the Ford commercials) and his show Dirty Jobs.

However, chasing donkeys is something that Saul did before he became king. As a matter of fact, it was in his chasing his fathers’ donkeys that he was anointed the first king of Israel. The story can be found in 1 Samuel 9. And so, I want to propose that being faithful in chasing donkeys can be used by God to accomplish his work in your life and his work in the world. Just ask Saul.

If you are one who does not find your life (possibly even ministry) very exciting, maybe mundane, commonplace, routine, possibly (to some extent) boring—if you feel as though your life is like chasing donkeys—my encouragement would be to be faithful. In fact, strive to be the best donkey chaser you can be; the best most faithful worker, employee, or boss you can be; the best most faithful parent and spouse you can be; the best most faithful child or friend you can be; the best most faithful student you can be; the best most faithful steward with your finances you can be; and the best most faithful child of the king you can be. And who knows, in your faithfulness to chase donkeys God may use you in ways that you could not even fathom. Just ask Saul. Go out and don’t be afraid or embarrassed to be faithful at chasing donkeys.