Waste not, want not - September 8

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53], 1 Kings 17:1-24; Phil. 2:1-11; Matt. 2:1-12

“Waste not, want not!” was a common mantra from my mom’s lips. I still hear those words in my head.

I was cleaning up in the kitchen the other night and silently stewing over how my kids had wasted something – food or art supplies or something else trivial. The window of a teachable moment to redirect or correct behavior passed; instead, I chose to reflect on the tension I felt. Why did this bother me so much?

I was raised knowing that we were living on a shoestring budget. My mom’s habits were meticulous, careful, measured. As I pondered my feelings and listened for what else was stirring, I had a moment of clarity. My vexation was more than just being frugal or a good steward. I found myself thinking about sin; I equate squandering resources with sinfulness.

When I say “sin”, I am not thinking of the big, bad ones like idolatry, murder, stealing, abuse, and infidelity…you know, the ones written on stone tablets by God back in Moses’ day. What I found myself pushing against was the presumption that all in the present moment was brimming with more. That feels like a sin. It is the absence of caring or having gratitude for what is in the present moment. If there is a sin spectrum, this is one of the lesser violations, and yet, such carelessness left unchecked could be a gateway to frivolous and self-centered living…and that has “sin” written all over it!

My brush with judgmental, miserly thinking this week raised a bellybutton gazing question: what does sin look like in the mundane parts of your life? Zooming out to look at the question from a different angle, what part of your past has formed your perception of what is unacceptable in daily living today? I wonder how often you and I talk about these answers with the people in our home, work, and church circles. How much better could we understand one another? How might we pray differently for one another, knowing these details? Knowing that we do not walk alone in this life, I wonder where can Jesus break in and bring God’s grace to you and me?

Today we read a part of Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi. The great apostle imparts words to bring perspective on what it means to be people living for and following Jesus. His solid message is grounded in the agape (love) of the Messiah:

“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:1-4)

Rather than parsing out one line that could lend credence to my spiraling irritation the other night, we have the gift of holding this message as a unit. Paul is reminding his listeners about the totality of relationship. Division could easily come from disputing one detail. He advises to stay united and in communication. He advises to check the motivations behind our actions, guarding against self-serving, empty pride. In a community-minded paradigm, Paul drives home the need for humility and attentiveness to others’ needs. Note: this comes with maturity and practice. 

He does not stop with the meat and potatoes of living in Christian community. Paul continues with the true inspiration, in what is called The Christ Hymn:

“Let the same mind be in you that you have in Christ Jesus,
 who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
 but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
   and gave him the name
   that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
   every knee should bend,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

This morning the Christ Hymn calls me to humility. To being grounded in God. To lift my eyes to see the glory of Jesus. To accept God’s grace that wipes away the clutter, division, and control that sin wreaks in my heart. To love my kids, even when they waste a cup of milk every now and then.

Redemption is beautiful.

--Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

What is a pet peeve of yours that, when witnessed in others, feels like it is a sin?

What part of your past has formed your perception of what is acceptable or unacceptable in daily living today?

Daily Challenge

Think about an action in others that bothers you: distracted driving, interrupting, tardiness, etc. Spend five minutes journaling about this scenario. Listen for how you are called to understand yourself and others in this tension. How can you shift your prayer life to invite God’s grace into the scene?