Stay out of the Trash
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I am raising children, and we have always had dogs. And one thing in common with all of those creatures is that deep inside them, from the moment they come into the world, is a burning desire to reach out, to bring close to them, and to taste the succulent morsels of goodness found in no other place than, the trash.
As a parent, and a normal human, most of us find that revolting, but to the dogs and young children.. there can be no higher prize.
I don’t intend for this to be a social statement about people who live their lives by getting their food from dumpsters or otherwise, that is a tragic thing. But even in that, there are big problems.
As a general rule, those of us who have matured enough to have a healthy appreciation for gross, can say together - stay out of the trash.
What does that have to do with Jesus? Why are we talking about it in church?
Because just like that - there are things in the world - for a believer - that are to be avoided. There are things that aught to gross us out. There are things that aught be bagged up - there are even things we aught to just hand to the professionals, hazardous materials like bulk chemicals and asbestos.
Most of the scripture that I am going to be referencing today comes from the book of Proverbs, which we understand to be a book of wisdom, primarily written by Solomon, son of David, King of Israel.
Many of the things that Solomon writes, he writes for the benefit of his sons. Wisdom he wants to pass down from one generation to the next - on how to go about living life.
And I want to go about this is a fun way - hence the talk about garbage. But we also have to understand that nothing could be more serious for the believer.
The things that directly go against the word of God, are sins. The things that just end up being dumb, because we didn’t think it all the way through, those things are mistakes. As a Christian, we must avoid sins and we should really work to avoid mistakes. The Holy Spirit can help us with both.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.
22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,
23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
Identify Trash in your life.
What are the things? Sins / Mistakes.
Things that directly go against the word of God.
The commandments, the instructions on how to live.
2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known.
3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Identify trash in the world:
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded.
8 Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house.
9 Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel;
8 Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house.
9 Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel;
14 Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
Seeing trash in others:
We have an instruction in scripture to hold one another accountable, to help one another succeed at Christian living. If you see a brother or sister - someone who has confessed that Jesus is Lord and proclaims faith in Jesus - messin around, you have a right and a responsibility to call that out, to help them. There is a biblical process for this. You don’t get to be a jerk about it, you don’t get to just do it however you want, there is a process.
The goal for another believer is restoration, not condemnation.
The goal for another believer is righteousness, not gossip.
The goal for another believer is peace.
One of the earliest sins recorded was when Cain answered God. God asked where Abel was, Cain exclaimed - “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Knowing full well that he had killed his brother.
We are responsible for one another. Your actions affect those around you.
We have instructions in scripture on how to do this because we are supposed to do something about it.
When we see trash in the life of someone who doesn’t believe: We have a different responsibility. We are called to share Jesus. Which will include sharing the standards that God has for creation. It is difficult to receive the good news of Jesus if you don’t know you need any.
Clean it up.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
Just like in our natural lives, when we see a mess, we need to clean it up, especially if that mess is our own.
Turn from it - walk away from it.
This is not always an easy process. In fact, it can sometimes be the hardest thing we can possibly do.
19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out,
Take it out.
Cause separation. We cannot hang out with sin.
Action:
Pray for forgiveness and Wisdom.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
2. Stay in the word.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Seek accountability.
14 Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
The good news: Jesus.
13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.