I had the unsavory task recently of trying
to find something that I accidentally thrown out with the garbage. I was amazed
at the collection of stuff that constitutes a week’s waste material in our
small household. By the time I sorted through the detritus there was a pile of
rubbish on the floor our garage, composed of stuff that I thought I would never
see or have to smell again! All I can say is that I am glad I am not a fly…
none of the stuff that I sorted through belonged on the floor, its rightful
place was in the in our garbage bin.
When I found what I was looking for, I
quickly returned the scattered contents to their rightful place…. the garbage bin!
As I washed my hands after this smelly
experience, I reflected on how often I have left my personal “garbage” lying
around for others to become offended at, burdened with or troubled by it. What
do I mean? How many times have I had a “pity party” in front of others? Or made
sure that others have been around to lend a “sympathetic” ear to my
faultfinding and nitpicking?
Many of us make sure that we have someone
else around before we “unburden” our complaining, whining or criticizing…. or
worse! What we usually fail to recognize is that when indulge in complaining,
or become critical of the way something is done, our accusation focuses on the minor,
and we normally loose sight of the “big picture”. We are trying to look at the
tapestry, and work out its intricate pattern by looking at the threads on the
reverse. We also fail to remember that our faultfinding is silently being
observed by an unseen witness…. our Lord. We fail to see that we are
“infecting” others with our polluting garbage…. when rivers of living water are
meant to issue from our bellies!
He who believes on Me, as the Scripture
has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38
When we dump our garbage on others we show that we are no better
than the Israelites of old. We read this very sobering verse in Numbers 11:1…
The people
complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when He heard
them, His anger was aroused. Then fire
from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the
camp."
The Lord God was aware of the murmurings of
the people, even if Moses was not… just as in our own lives, God is aware of
our discontent, even if those around us are not. The sin arises not from having
feelings of discontent and frustration, but rather what we do with those
feelings. As we go through each day we will accumulate some garbage…it’s
inevitable, it’s part of our fallen human condition.
God doesn’t just expect us to ignore our
feelings, or even burry them. He wants us to be mature enough to deal with
them! God knows the secret fretting and murmurings of our hearts, however well
they be concealed from men.
Our garbage needs to be disposed of in the right and proper manner….
not scattered all over the place for others to pick over. King David knew the
secret of garbage disposal…. I cried to the LORD with my voice; with my
voice to the LORD I made my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him;
I showed before him my trouble. Psalm 142:1-2. Webster’s Translation
 |
| A dry well, or living waters. |
When our spirits are overwhelmed by distress, and filled with
discouragement, when we see snares laid for us on every side, while we walk in
His way, we may reflect with comfort that the Lord knows our path, and that He
has the best garbage disposal business in the universe.
From God's Word.
From God's Word.
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