"The Karate Kid" (1984) movie was an instant classic. I remember my brother and cousin rehearsing the final "crane kick" over and over, trying to make it look as real as possible without making contact. The film had a bit of everything people like in movies: classic lines, funny moments, and the underdog winning.
My favourite character in the film was Mr. Miyagi, the gruff custodian who had an amazing house, sprawling deck, car collection, and taught karate like a boss. By looking at him you just knew Mr. Miyagi was a stud and was not to be messed with. Who sits around trying to catch flies with chopsticks? When whingy Daniel complained about all the chores Miyagi told him to do after agreeing to teach him karate, he was as surprised of the plot twist as I was - he had unwittingly been doing karate drills all day and into the night when he was waxing cars, sanding floors, and painting the fence. Miyagi was wise, though Daniel didn't think so as he worked. The one Daniel likely cursed under his breath of being a lazy, lying, selfish Sensei was the one who was forging him into a champion.
Mr. Miyagi didn't write a book on wisdom, but the methods he employed to train Daniel are similar to the ways God trains His people to serve Him. In his sweat and toil Daniel grew bitter because he wasn't doing what he wanted to do, and we can act the same towards God. We have these arbitrary expectations of what God has called us to not realising He desires to do a work in us too. Many people are impatient to enter into missionary or pastoral work thinking it all begins with arriving in the field or being ordained by men. Do you find it interesting Jesus did not go to the synagogue or utilise Pharisee Labour Ready to fill His full-time ministry staff vacancies? He went to fishermen as they mended their nets; He called a tax collector when he was on the job. In my case, He sought me out after a career spanning a decade in mechanical insulation I genuinely loved and was content. He had ordained me to be a pastor and directed me and my family to leave my home in SoCal for Australia. Even Mr. Miyagi couldn't have predicted that.
So you want to serve God in ministry? Don't be surprised if He has you doing the equivalent of sanding floors and painting fences - things which seem totally unrelated to what your ideas of ministry preparation are. One thing about Daniel LaRusso we should take to heart is he stuck around. He had an awful attitude, sour as can be, but he gritted his teeth and did every task he was directed morning to night - even when unsupervised. And when he couldn't take it anymore, Mr. Miyagi graciously let him in on what he was doing by throwing punches at him. Suddenly Daniel realised: there was a reason behind all those chores. What seemed completely unrelated and a waste of his time was a critical investment in his development. God requires His servants to be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). Daniel's labours did not earn him the right to learn karate, though that is what it seemed at the time. Not one of us is worthy to be acknowledged, taught, or trained by God to accomplish His purposes, but the servants worth their salt are those who gladly do the hard yards in obedience to Jesus. God is much more than a divine "sensei" for the word means, "one who came before." Jesus existed before the beginning of all things and will endure forever as the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last who graciously gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.
I believe there are many people called by God to be His special ministers who miss their chance because they weren't willing to faithfully do the little things God has placed before them. They are called to preach and teach, not clean carpets and give rides. They are called to lead worship, not move chairs or update a website. They are not content to do chores but want the equivalent of a black belt based upon their sense of God's calling alone. This sort will always fall short of God's potential for them. If we labour and are useful for the glory of God, it is all of His grace. No task is too low for a child of God to embrace, for Jesus humbled Himself to put on human flesh, be the servant of all, and willingly died on the cross. If God has you sanding floors, do that monotonous and back-breaking task with all your might unto Him. Someday the season of sanding will finish and you will be blown away how God used it to smooth your rough edges. If Jesus is your Good Teacher, you will discover His ways and methods are higher than yours! For those who humble themselves to take the lowest place, ultimately God will say to them: "Friend, come up higher!"
My favourite character in the film was Mr. Miyagi, the gruff custodian who had an amazing house, sprawling deck, car collection, and taught karate like a boss. By looking at him you just knew Mr. Miyagi was a stud and was not to be messed with. Who sits around trying to catch flies with chopsticks? When whingy Daniel complained about all the chores Miyagi told him to do after agreeing to teach him karate, he was as surprised of the plot twist as I was - he had unwittingly been doing karate drills all day and into the night when he was waxing cars, sanding floors, and painting the fence. Miyagi was wise, though Daniel didn't think so as he worked. The one Daniel likely cursed under his breath of being a lazy, lying, selfish Sensei was the one who was forging him into a champion.
Mr. Miyagi didn't write a book on wisdom, but the methods he employed to train Daniel are similar to the ways God trains His people to serve Him. In his sweat and toil Daniel grew bitter because he wasn't doing what he wanted to do, and we can act the same towards God. We have these arbitrary expectations of what God has called us to not realising He desires to do a work in us too. Many people are impatient to enter into missionary or pastoral work thinking it all begins with arriving in the field or being ordained by men. Do you find it interesting Jesus did not go to the synagogue or utilise Pharisee Labour Ready to fill His full-time ministry staff vacancies? He went to fishermen as they mended their nets; He called a tax collector when he was on the job. In my case, He sought me out after a career spanning a decade in mechanical insulation I genuinely loved and was content. He had ordained me to be a pastor and directed me and my family to leave my home in SoCal for Australia. Even Mr. Miyagi couldn't have predicted that.
So you want to serve God in ministry? Don't be surprised if He has you doing the equivalent of sanding floors and painting fences - things which seem totally unrelated to what your ideas of ministry preparation are. One thing about Daniel LaRusso we should take to heart is he stuck around. He had an awful attitude, sour as can be, but he gritted his teeth and did every task he was directed morning to night - even when unsupervised. And when he couldn't take it anymore, Mr. Miyagi graciously let him in on what he was doing by throwing punches at him. Suddenly Daniel realised: there was a reason behind all those chores. What seemed completely unrelated and a waste of his time was a critical investment in his development. God requires His servants to be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). Daniel's labours did not earn him the right to learn karate, though that is what it seemed at the time. Not one of us is worthy to be acknowledged, taught, or trained by God to accomplish His purposes, but the servants worth their salt are those who gladly do the hard yards in obedience to Jesus. God is much more than a divine "sensei" for the word means, "one who came before." Jesus existed before the beginning of all things and will endure forever as the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last who graciously gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.
I believe there are many people called by God to be His special ministers who miss their chance because they weren't willing to faithfully do the little things God has placed before them. They are called to preach and teach, not clean carpets and give rides. They are called to lead worship, not move chairs or update a website. They are not content to do chores but want the equivalent of a black belt based upon their sense of God's calling alone. This sort will always fall short of God's potential for them. If we labour and are useful for the glory of God, it is all of His grace. No task is too low for a child of God to embrace, for Jesus humbled Himself to put on human flesh, be the servant of all, and willingly died on the cross. If God has you sanding floors, do that monotonous and back-breaking task with all your might unto Him. Someday the season of sanding will finish and you will be blown away how God used it to smooth your rough edges. If Jesus is your Good Teacher, you will discover His ways and methods are higher than yours! For those who humble themselves to take the lowest place, ultimately God will say to them: "Friend, come up higher!"
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