Praise & Pray

We live in a time where waste is the norm. From governments allowing food to rot to companies ignoring cost-effective measures except when they choose to lay off staff to increase earnings. All around us, we see wasteful behaviors, and if we are honest, we ourselves are often wasteful.

However, Christians serve a God who isn't wasteful and expects us to emulate Him. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in John 6. There, Jesus miraculously fed over 5000 people with nothing but five loaves of bread and two fish. The Bible tells us that He gave thanks for what they had to eat and shared the food with those gathered.

And because God gives exceedingly and abundantly more than is requested, the 'small' amount of food fed every single person, and there was more available. Jesus instructed His disciples to gather what remained, saying, "Let nothing be wasted" (John 6:12). The disciples packed up the rest, and it was enough to fill twelve baskets.

Even though it is easy to become wasteful, especially in a world that celebrates excess, Christ's words remind us to be good stewards of what we have. The Bible teaches that a person can only have what they receive from the Lord (John 3:27). Therefore, what we have is by His grace and should be treated well. Treating things well means not being wasteful with them.

Don't justify wastefulness with the attitude that what we have isn't good enough or that it is too little. While there may be room for improvement, let us be careful not to grumble or complain (Philippians 2:14). Zechariah 4:10 also warns us not to despise our early and humble beginnings. This means appreciating where we are, while knowing that God is taking us beyond that. After all, Job 8:7 states that our latter days shall be better than the early ones by God's grace.

We must be mindful of Jesus' instruction - let nothing be wasted. A good steward can be trusted to receive the more that God intends to give. Let us also consider Luke 16:11-12 - “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much./So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?/ And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

As Christmas and a new year approach, think of your life and consider where you might be wasteful. Could it be with your time? How about overconsumption through purchasing things you know you don't need and likely won't use? Or perhaps it's with food. How many of us throw out much of the food we buy because we end up spontaneously ordering out or just not using what we have wisely?

Jesus's instruction is for all of us who consider ourselves His disciples today. That word to let nothing be wasted equally applies to every believer for all time. Prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal the ways you are wasteful and to give strategy and wisdom not to repeat the error. By the grace of God, He will help us to obey and apply the Savior's word in all areas of our lives so we please Him and, most importantly, His Father, our Lord God Almighty. IJN, Amen. And have a merry Christmas!

As you await fellowship, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. Serve with your Talents & Gifts

2. Requirements to Receive

3. Praise instead of pray

4. How do you love?

5. You Reap What You Sow

6. Are you part of the problem?

7. Give Generously

8. Are You Numb To Evil?

9. Your Fiduciary Duty To God

10. Pray, Don't Rant

11. Be About The Father's Business

12. How To Treat What God Reveals

13. God's Word, His Plan & Spirit

14. Topic: Fruitfulness, Fruit

15. Topic: Grumble/Grumbling and Complaining