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Time for the Dumpster
"TIME FOR THE DUMPSTER”
Every three or four years my wife and I rent a dumpster from a local company. We use it to clean out the basement, the garage, the barn, and the “craft room.” We take the time to get rid of things that we have accumulated over the past several years, items we have not used for years or those we thought we needed when we purchased them. It is a good time to go through all of our material things and sort out those that are truly needed versus those we never use. Sometimes it is bitter sweet to part with items that have some emotional attachments to the past. However, the process is good for us as we truly consider those things that are needed and those that are beneficial for us.
Our Christian life is a lot like what is described in the above paragraph. It is good for us to stop ever so often and “bring in the dumpster” to rid our lives of unnecessary things. Over the years we accumulate a lot of things in our lives that are not truly needed. While these may include physical things, they can also include items that are added to our spiritual lives that clutter our service to God. We may think those things do not hinder our service to the Lord when they actually do prevent us from giving God our very best.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and reminded the members in Ephesians 4:22, “put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” As Christians, we need to constantly be putting off the old man and putting on the new man in Christ. We need to be getting rid of those things in our lives that deter us from worshipping the Lord to the fullest.
Let’s throw into the dumpster and get rid of the idea that we are still under the “spell” of the pandemic. We need to quit making excuses for not serving God and blaming it on COVID. Let’s throw the idea of not giving the Lord our best into the dumpster as well. The dumpster needs to be full of our laziness and our complacency. Our attitude of lukewarmness needs to be tossed in there as well. We need to realize that God requires our very best in behavior, conduct, dress, speech, and attitude in worshipping Him. Let’s throw into the dumpster bitterness, hatred, evil thoughts, envy, jealousy, and other such things. We need to return to brotherly kindness, love, patience, self-control, joy, and peace.
Is it time for you to bring a “dumpster” into your life and get rid of the things causing you to not serve the Lord as you should?
Written by Larry Schneider
