PAINT THE FENCE
Kendra Intihar
Today’s Scripture: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” Philippians 4:17, ESV
Theme: God isn’t after your tithe so much as the character produced by obedience.
SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS
Last weekend, my middle school-aged son watched The Karate Kid for the first time. I’d been so excited to watch it with him because I knew he would love it—and of course, he did. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll recall that young Daniel Larusso, who is new to town, is being relentlessly bullied by Johnny Lawrence. After a series of fateful interactions and incidents, Daniel finds an unlikely mentor in Mr. Miyagi, who becomes his karate instructor.
When the lessons start, Mr. Miyagi agrees to train Daniel on one condition: that Daniel doesn’t question his methods. As training ensues, Daniel is surprised to find himself doing seemingly unrelated tasks like waxing cars, sanding a wooden path, and painting fences. Most of us can remember Mr. Miyagi’s simple instructions: “Paint the fence. Wax on, wax off. Sand the floor.” Daniel begins to question his mentor’s approach—where were the promised karate lessons?
LESSONS IN THE PROCESS
In a pivotal moment, Mr. Miyagi reveals to Daniel that his efforts had not been meaningless. Daniel’s faithfulness and commitment to the process were forming him into the kind of focused and disciplined karate student he needed to be. The chores were not the point; the lessons were hidden in the process.
Similarly, when Paul wrote to the Philippians, he told them that he rejoiced in the Lord, not because of the gifts they gave him, but because their care for him gave them the opportunity to develop a spirit of generosity (see Philippians 4:10-17). When he sought their generosity, Paul was, in a sense, “Mr. Miyagi-ing” them. He didn’t need their gifts; rather, he understood that their generosity was a process by which their spiritual character was being developed.
DISCIPLINED
This principle still applies to us in our obedience to God. We can be legalistic about following rules and doing the “right thing,” but God’s desire is not for us to perform mechanically; His desire is to shape our hearts and mold us into people who are bearing spiritual fruit. Just like the lessons were hidden in the “chores” in The Karate Kid, spiritual growth takes place through faithful daily practices. Prayer, serving, generosity, gratitude, Scripture reading, and other spiritual disciplines may seem mundane, or even meaningless, but they’re part of our character formation in Christ. Sometimes we just need to “paint the fence,” and trust in God’s goodness and His outcomes.
Make It Personal: God is using even our most mundane moments and acts of obedience to shape our character and draw us closer to Him. Where in your life are you most likely to resist this process? How might you grow to trust Him more through simple and sustained obedience?
Pray: Lord, I’m prone not just to disobedience, but to questioning Your paths and processes in my life. Help me to joyfully do the small, simple, everyday things You have called me to do so that my heart will truly be clay in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Romans 5:3-5; Colossians 3:23-24; Hebrews 12:11
Weekly Memory Verse: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Malachi 3:10, ESV