We know that our times on earth are temporary and limited. We should wake up every morning and go to bed every night asking ourselves, are we wasting any precious time or opportunity that God has given us?
1. Seeing the Waste
Matthew 26:8-9 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Are we seeing the waste we cause; or aware of the time that we are not using wisely?
Since we are so used to our worldly mundane routine, most of the time we let important opportunities to serve God slip past us due to our ignorance and flesh. We are way too blinded by the world and Satan’s agenda.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Besides, Numbers 14:22-23 also convicts us that despite the number of times God answered our prayers in the past, and showed us His grace and kindness, we still fall short and let Him down.
This passage also reminds us to not waste God’s blessings, because our Heavenly Father is a just and righteous God. Our unrighteousness will only provoke His anger and to take back all His gifts from us. Start appreciating and do not mess up the waste before it is too late. Take this incident of the Hebrews in the wilderness as an important reminder and lesson, that our Father is 100% loving, but also 100% holy to chastise us whenever necessary.
One great way to help us resolve this problem and is to adjust our priorities, is to shift our focus on things that are heavenly and not worldly. Just like what the Apostle Paul taught in the book of Colossians 3:2.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
2. Sensing the Waste
Sensing the waste of time we cause is very important because if we get used to being worldly and fleshly, our conscience will be immune; which will ultimately lose its power to convict us when it truly matters.
We often think that if the time we invest in building our worldly possessions goes to waste or does not get the return we desire, we tend to get so frustrated. Little do we realize that the time we do not invest in serving God and living a spiritual Christian life is all the time that really goes to waste, yet has that caused any indignation in us?
Haggai 1:9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
God truly wants to complete us and use us for the greater good. He will present us with opportunities time after time, but if we blow them and let them go to waste, don’t be surprised that God will also withdraw these golden opportunities and give them to someone else.
Let’s remember that as saved Christians, our bodies become the temples of the Holy Ghost, and we are to consecrate every part of it. Simply ask ourselves how much time do we spend on using the temple to serve God, or do we use it to please our own pleasure?
How much time do you use your mind to study the doctrines vs for your flesh?
How much do you use your hands to pray vs for your flesh?
How much do you use your mouth to win souls vs for your flesh?
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We are saved by God’s grace, not of our good works. Nonetheless, it is through our work that we glorify our Heavenly Father. Galatians 4:11 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5 indicate that of all the 33 years of labor and sacrifices that Jesus put in for us, we let all of that go to waste if we fail to live for Jesus Christ. We are basically trampling upon the blood of the Lamb. Besides Jesus Christ, it is also the effort of the early Christian martyrs, even our fellow members who constantly prayed for us, are we disrespecting and dishonoring their labor and work?
3. Speculating the Waste
Even so, when we are serving God and doing His work, we need to speculate and make sure that we don’t do it out of routine as well. Let’s be reminded that our service should not be specious and robotic, otherwise it will not be counted. Moreover, whatever talents and gifts that God gives to us, we need to know that God wants us to use it for His glory, not for our own flesh.
Luke 15:13-14 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Of all the good health, wealth, talents, or even looks that God gives us, these are the gifts that we should be using to honor and testify to His glory. If we keep wasting them on sins and our lusts, we will come to a point of nothingness. Colossians 3:23 mentions the same message as well. Luke 15:15-17 says that when we waste way too much and finally come to our senses, we will realize that we have been standing on a hog pen.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
With all that God has given us, including time, opportunity, physical and mental gifts, we only have one shot and one lifetime to make them all worthwhile, and to accumulate rewards in heaven.
Let’s hope that we all do not need to wait until we are at our deathbeds to ask ourselves to what purpose is this waste? Only by then we realize we could have done so much more when we have all the time, energy, and opportunity in the world, but we took it all for granted.