Have you ever been encouraged to “dream big?” Have you been told that you “have what it takes” to make an impact? Have you been cheered on with the message that you can “be anything” you want to be?

Maybe there was some Christianese attached to those statements. Perhaps you were spurred on to dream “God-sized dreams.” Or you’ve heard from the pulpit that “you can do all things through Christ.”

There’s nothing wrong with the intent of those who have tried to pump us up with these verses or quotes. In fact, I may have parroted those things too.

But have we also been told that God-sized dreams don’t need to be “impressive” by the world’s estimation? Have we also been encouraged that our daily work doesn’t have to be visible in order to be valuable? Have we also heard the message that ‘ordinary’ work can be extraordinarily meaningful?

Have we also been encouraged that our daily work doesn’t have to be visible in order to be valuable?

One problem with the ‘dream big’ idea is that we are constantly waiting for the big breakthrough, the dazzling opportunity, the spot in the limelight—so much so that we forget that right under our noses are good works God has already prepared for us to do.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that we live mediocre lives. What I am suggesting is that we take our ordinary lives, our five loaves and two fish, and we offer that to God for His glory.

Let’s draw some principles about everyday ministry from the life of Ruth in the Old Testament.

You may know the story. Ruth’s husband had died and prior to that, her husband’s father had passed away too. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, planned on leaving Moab, where they lived, to return to her hometown of Bethlehem. She urges her two bereaved daughters-in-law to return to their homes in Moab so they could move on with their lives.

But Ruth decides to stick with her mom-in-law, Naomi, and accompany her to Bethlehem. She says to Naomi: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16)

Ruth was simply helping one bereaved woman. There was no hype to her actions. There was no trending #ruthrocks hashtag that would make her actions go viral. But even though her loyalty may not have looked like much to the world, it meant the world to Naomi.

Friend, maybe the work you do is not “measurable” by the world’s yardstick. Maybe it won’t get you a promotion or catapult you into the C-suite. But remember that ministry to the lonely often happens away from the limelight.

Getting back to the story, once Ruth and Naomi reach Bethlehem, Ruth goes to the fields of the landowner Boaz to glean from the barley left behind by the workers. It was far from a glamorous job. This was back-breaking labor.

When Boaz inquires about Ruth, here’s what the foreman of the field has to say about her: She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters. She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now…” (Ruth 2: 6-7)

There is no question that Ruth’s job was menial, repetitive, and boring. It took tremendous humility to bend low in a foreign land and pick up leftovers. But Ruth’s work ethic was so strong that even the foreman noticed it and commended her. Ruth’s hard work and humility serve as an example to us.

When your work feels thankless, when it feels menial, repetitive, and boring, remember that ministry doesn’t have to look impressive for it to be impactful. 

Ministry looks like faithfully doing the job God has called you to do. Even if it’s below your pay grade. It’s cheerfully going about your assignment even if you can’t see immediate results. It’s not working for the promotion or the corner office. It’s working for the glory of God.

Ministry looks like faithfully doing the job God has called you to do. Even if it’s below your pay grade.

We’re going to pivot now from Ruth to Boaz. Clearly, he was a well-respected landowner who had several people working for him. But Boaz wasn’t someone who flaunted his status. He just quietly blessed the widowed foreigner by asking his employees to leave behind extra grains for Ruth to gather.

Boaz ministered in a way that was quiet and unassuming. He didn’t need to advertise it or post it on social media.

In a culture of celebrity Christians and Instagram influencers, maybe your work feels small and insignificant. But Boaz shows us that ministry done in secret is as significant, if not more, than ministry done on stage.

When Ruth remained loyal to her mother-in-law, it was a small step of obedience. She wanted Naomi’s God to be her God.  We see how God took that ministry to one lone hurting woman, and blessed it. Ruth marries Boaz and they have a baby boy, Obed. This widow from Moab eventually becomes the grandmother of David and is included in the lineage of our Savior.

I read this quote and it resonated with me and maybe it will for you too: “As you enter ministry, you will be tempted to orient your desires toward doing large things in famous ways as fast and as efficiently as you can. But . . . almost anything in life that truly matters will require you to do small, mostly overlooked things, over a long period of time with him.”

No matter how off the grid, unappreciated or menial, remember your ordinary ministry can be extraordinarily meaningful.

---

If this blog resonated with you, SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for FREE so you get my posts delivered to your inbox. Would also love a Facebook or Instagram follow. Thanks a ton for stopping by!

A version of this post first appeared on Indiaanya.