Making Donuts

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
09/30/20 - Bulletin Articles

Remember this guy? (If so, sorry but you’re “old”!) In the early 1980’s he was the face of the Dunkin Donuts ad campaign. I remember one commercial in particular that had him rolling out of bed at some ungodly hour, and sleepily heading toward the bathroom saying, “It’s time to make the donuts” to his wife. Spiritually speaking, perhaps “It’s time to make the donuts” for us too…

While there’s no parable-type metaphor intended, or even any deep spiritual meaning implied, there are some transferable points to be gleaned from a guy getting up well before daylight to make donuts. Such as:

He got up each morning with a “job” to do. We all need “something to do;” an occupation. When God created the Garden Paradise, He “caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food,” Gen.2:9. The Lord illuminated the Universe with but four uttered words did NOT need a gardener- but man needed something to do! So, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it,” Gen.2:15. Like Adam, and like the donut guy, we need spiritual occupation. The Church, as comparable to the Garden, was created perfectly and through divine supply, completely supplies all man’s spiritual needs. But man, again, needed a “job” to keep him actively engaged. So, God graciously provided church members fellowship (joint participation). For instance, there are nine “one another” tasks provided in Rom.12 -16 alone, and this doesn’t include all the “love one another” employments in the gospel and epistles of John! Though “active” Christians do occasionally “fall away,” more often than not it is those that have “learn(ed” to be idle,” or those that have occupied themselves with improper activities that are most at risk, cf. 1Tim.5:13. Jesus told the disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work,” John 4:34. Let’s busy ourselves making the Lord’s “donuts”!
He was willing to sacrifice. Many will “work” in the kingdom if it doesn’t “cost” them anything they really value, like their time, energy/effort, or resources. If it doesn’t require me get up too early, stay too late, or otherwise interfere with everything else I want to do. The donut guy probably enjoyed “sleeping in” as much as the next guy. He likely also had plenty of “other things” he could have been doing with his mornings. But there was a need (who doesn’t like donuts!), and he was willing to sacrifice to meet it! Are we really willing to “spend and be expended” for the souls of others (and our own!) like Paul, cf. 2Cor.12:15? In Luke 9:57-62 and Luke 14:26-35 Jesus highlighted the need of sacrifice in true discipleship. Donuts are wonderful, but it takes a lot of dedicated sacrifice to make them day in and day out.
Though it was his “job,” one has to enjoy their “work” to get up that early every morning to do it (clearly, other occupations have better hours). Many are Christians, not so many are “happy” Christians. It’s kind of like a child who is made to do the right thing (say “I’m sorry” or clean their room)- they may do the right things, but their not happy about it. In Rev.2:2-3, the church at Ephesus was doing many good things, but they obviously didn’t have the right attitude, emotion, or motivation- they had “left your first love,” Rev.2:4. When Christianity was “new” to us, we couldn’t wait to involved as much as possible. But over time, our zeal for “good deeds” (Titus 2:14) faded with affliction, persecution, the worries of the world, or the deceitfulness of riches, and we become not only “unfruitful” but unhappy, cf. Matt.13:20-22. We must then rekindle our love for and our joy in making (spiritual) donuts all over again, Rev.2:5!
Though he made his living making donuts, but he wasn’t making them for himself- He enjoyed providing for others. At its core, Christianity is about serving God and others rather than self, Phil.2:3-7. If you don’t enjoy, or can’t learn to enjoy serving and providing service to others, then you’ll never stick to making (spiritual) donuts. Don’t believe me? Read John 13:1-17 slowly, carefully, and prayerfully.

Yeah, it was just a commercial from a bygone time about a guy getting up early to make donuts for others. But if you think about it, and I hope you will, there’s a lot that can be learned from a donut guy. So spiritually speaking, “It’s time to make the donuts!”