One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure



 


June - garage sale season; the time in which we cast off things we no longer hold dear in hopes of replacing them with pennies on the dollars we spent…

Or...

The time when we scavenge other people’s homes in search of inexpensive “treasures” to add to our own collections…

A few weeks ago, my husband brought home this lamp.  It came from the office of a friend whose business Jim is purchasing and upon proudly placing it on the desk in our home office he exclaimed, “Isn’t it great?!”  (Sigh.)

In my mind, the lamp is definitely NOT great, and not something I want in our office, so I suggested that maybe it would look better in one of his work ones (I’ll let you know how that goes).  In any case, the thought, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure" came to mind, and I thought about that as it relates to God.

According to a June 2022 article in the Washington Post, Americans’ belief in God is dropping.  And, according to Gallup Polls, in 2020 only 47% of American households belonged to a church, down nearly 30 points from 1985.

What can be made of this?  Well – I believe these declines are intrinsically tied to what is going on in our country: 

  • the villainization of those who hold opinions different from our own
  • unprecedented violence, chaos and rioting
  • increased depression, suicide, and
  • dysphoria of all types. 

When we cast God aside like an item bound for a garage sale, THESE are the results.

Matthew 19 tells a story of a rich man who had been keeping the commandments and came to Jesus and asked what he must do in order to receive eternal life.  Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then, come, follow me.”  (Matthew 19:21)

Jesus was telling this man that there is NOTHING on Earth that we should treasure more than a relationship with God, our Father, and the provider of ALL of it. 

1st Corinthians 1:18 says “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 

The message of the gospel may be “trash” to some, but to me – it is most definitely a “treasure”.

 

 

 

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