Lessons from the Trash
1.God's Way is Always Better Than We May Think
I have found there are certain things in my life that I really do not look forward to, but when I actually do them, I find myself enjoying the action. For me, these things include doing math, eating chili, and running. Another one of these things is maintaining the trash. I absolutely do not like the thought of needing to burn the trash, but once I finally get to lighting the trash on fire, I find myself mesmerized by the flames, and I actually willingly stand there and watch it burn. Surprisingly, burning the trash is not half as bad of the job that I make it out to be in my head!
One day as I was Picking up the trash, this aspect of life reminded me of God. If we are honest, obeying God is not something our flesh looks forward to doing or delights in. Our flesh cannot delight in obeying God because it is contrary to God— it is completely opposite of Him!
But the Spirit within a born-again believer can.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)
God's ways are perfect. And obedience is expected—whether we want to or not.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:31)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
“If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)
2. The Small Things Create The Big Things
As my sister and I were walking through the yard picking up the stray pieces of trash on that particular day, she mentioned how long it was going to take (since we had neglected it for some time). Each little piece of garbage turned that area of our yard into a trashy place (literally).
How true it is that its the small things which create the big picture. All things that are big or complex started out small:
The world started from one word out of God's mouth
Trees start as seeds
You started as a teeny egg too small to see with the naked eye
Floods start as drops
Raging fires start as sparks
Sin starts as a single thought
3. Sin Is Sin No matter How Small
Speaking of sin...
While I was finding pieces of trash to pick up I came across a small, clear plastic cup. My immediate thought was, "This one does not need to be picked up, first of all, because it is small, and second of all, because it is nearly invisible."
Laugh. Out. Loud. (Seriously, do it)
We ALL know that trash is trash no matter how small.
For a moment, imagine that somebody put a worm in your bed right before you went to sleep, and then they told you to sleep well. Would you sleep well knowing there was a worm in your bed?
Probably not.
Now imagine they came and put a smaller "worm" on your bed right before you went to sleep, like...a maggot?
And then, they tell you to sleep well, "Because," they claim, "The maggot is so small, it's not even there."
I am 100% positive you would not buy that lie.
That reminded me of...sin. It is the same way with sin. So-called "small" sins are still sin. That counts for invisible sins also (you know those sins that only you and God know about):
Lust
Pride
Fear
Doubt
Worry
Hatred
Bitterness
Grudges
Unforgiveness
Resentment
Envy
Unrighteous anger
Ill motives while doing "good" things
Rejection of truth
Denial of Truth
And the list could go on.
A worm is a worm no matter how small.
Trash is trash no matter how small.
Sin is sin no matter how small.
Oh, and by the way: sin stinks just like trash. ;)
