Tuesday 19th November 2024 is World Toilet Day. Yes, it’s a real thing, and no, it’s not just an excuse for potty humour (though it’s tempting!). The truth is, toilets—or rather, the lack of them—are no joke. For literally billions of people across the globe, access to proper sanitation is a matter of dignity, health, and safety. Not quite what you expected to ponder over your morning coffee, eh?
For us in the UK, the humble loo is something we don’t think twice about, but today might be a good day to reflect on how God calls us to serve others with dignity. Toilets represent more than just hygiene. They symbolise the human need for respect and care. Interestingly enough, the Bible has plenty to say about meeting people’s needs, however ‘mundane’ they might seem.
When Jesus bent down to wash his disciples’ feet in John 13:4-5, He was taking on the role of a servant, meeting a basic need for cleanliness. A need that, let’s face it, would have been just as essential and as ordinary as access to sanitation facilities! Yet Jesus didn’t see service as beneath Him. Instead, Christ showed us that service, even in areas of life we consider ‘menial,’ can be a holy and profound action.
Here’s the truth we often forget: When we meet someone’s physical needs—whether through food, shelter, or sanitation—we are serving Christ. Matthew 25:40 tells us, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Notice the plural there? Not ‘the least’ but ‘the least of THESE.’ Christ’s words make it clear that dignity and care are for EVERYONE. That includes the smallest and often most overlooked acts of kindness.
So what does that mean for us today on World Toilet Day? It serves as a powerful reminder that Christian service isn’t just about preaching or ‘spiritual’ tasks. It means looking for those practical needs that uphold another person’s very dignity. Maybe the next time you’re tempted to think of someone’s need as insignificant, remember that Jesus washed feet – even the dusty, dirty ones. Nothing is too humble or insignificant when it comes to service in the Kingdom of God.
Reflection Verse
‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.’ John 13:14
Reflection Question
Whom can you serve today in a way that upholds their dignity? Are there needs within your community, even the ‘small’ ones, that are being overlooked?
A Moment to Reflect & An Encouraging Action
Today, reflect on Matthew 25:40 and how helping to meet someone’s need—no matter how humble—is serving God directly. Let that inspire you to do something practical today. Whether it’s buying a meal for someone in need or simply holding open a door, choose to serve with the mindset that every action, no matter how small, honours God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that no act of service is too small in Your eyes. Help me to see the needs around me, to be Your hands and feet in this world, and to serve with humility and love. Teach me to value others with dignity, just as You have valued me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
