The Problem Of Waste
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
Many years ago, my grandmother taught me the following old maxim: “Waste not, want not.” It’s sad to see that in our materialistic society, this maxim has long gone by the wayside in application.
For example, in our public schools, waste is an ongoing problem. In the El Paso School District where I am employed, there is brand new furniture sitting in warehouses that has never been used. There are portable computers for children designed to enhance their ability to read, also sitting in warehouses collecting dust. Other wasteful and useless projects are seemingly the norm for school districts these days (see article).
The waste of good food is another area of concern in our public schools. Students in the El Paso School District throw much of the food in their food trays in the trash, that could be used to feed the hungry in our city. In one report, a Chicago public school discarded 334 pounds of uneaten whole food in a single day.
Why are we such a wasteful society? Because in an materially abundant society such as ours, individuals tend to take the things that God has blessed us with for granted, and thus whatever is not wanted after being satiated, is immediately disposed of. No consideration of the poor or less fortunate is even thought of.
The prodigal son had such a mindset — so much so, that he spent all of his inheritance in a far country — he literally “wasted his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13 KJV). At this point in time, there came a terrific famine in the land, causing the son to be in severe want (Luke 15:14). To prevent starvation, the son was forced to lower himself to the lowest level of servitude possible for a Jew — that of feeding pigs [swine] (Luke 15:15).
Brethren and friends, as Christians, we are stewards of what God has provided us with (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10; cf. Luke 16:1-12). Whatever we possess, is to be used in expanding the Lord’s kingdom, the church, thus bringing honor and glory to Him (Matthew 5:16; John 15:7-8; cf. Philippians 1:8-11).
We dare not be found wasteful, for we might find ourselves in the same circumstances and condition as the prodigal son.
Therefore, let us not waste anything that we have received from God, whether it be food, time, talents, or wealth, but use these things to benefit others, both physically and spiritually (cf. Acts 2:41-47; Acts 3:1-9; Acts 4:31-37).