Throwing Out Junk

Luke 16:19 – There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. (NIV)

Last summer I decided to clean out my workshed. As I was going through the shed, I found a big box of old phonograph records. I thought that, since I do not have a record player, these records were not doing me much good. The next day I took the box of records to the dump. I left them in an area that if someone wanted them they could take them. The next day my wife and I went to a yard sale, and, lo and behold, there for sale was the box of records I had thrown out.

What I regarded as junk, someone else saw as materials they could use. As I think about Luke 16:19-31, I ask myself if I am using the gifts and blessings God has given to me for his glory, or if I am throwing them away. Do I ignore my neighbour and live only for myself, or do I use what has been given to me? Our salvation is the most precious gift we can ever receive. How we live our lives reflects how precious it is.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray that we will not throw aside the gifts you give us, but that you will empower us to use these gifts to further your kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.