Garbage, rubbish and trash are commonly defined as being
worthless. Paul, the evangelist in Philippians 3:7-11 described all that he had
stood for and upheld before becoming a Christian, as rubbish.
Those who live long enough to learn what life is about, and
that may be short, will recognise that not all they did was profitable for
themselves or others. When seen in the light of day, they measure the
significance of their past actions in terms of worth - worth not based on
wealth through the acquisition of riches, but on value-added love through the
giving of self for the good of others. This may sound altruistic, but the
alternative selfish, self-gain, self-willed lifestyle brings no satisfaction. Those
transformed by the light of the Gospel understand the foolishness of seeking to gain the whole world in exchange for their soul.*
On the road to Damascus,** Paul was challenged by Christ who
appeared to him in a blinding light, and from that point on, his life became
profitable. Repentant and renewed, he was enabled to throw away the trash and
count it as worthless, and thereafter live a worthy, selfless life in the
service of God.
Much of what I have done with my life has been worthless
trash, but I praise God for His revelation in Christ and I look to the future.
*Matthew 16:26 ‘For
what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’
**Acts 9:3-19
Links
Garbage, Rubbish, Trash
Recycling, Carbon Footprints and Survival
No comments:
Post a Comment