Are You Dumping Garbage?

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. - 1 Thessalonians 5:15

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It was the end of World War II. The city of Berlin was being divided, with West Berlin, of course, given to the Allies, and East Berlin given to the Russians. The East Berliners decided they wanted to send a message of some kind by driving this big truck full of garbage on to the west side of the line and dumping it all over the place. Well, the West Berliners weren't going to let that insult go. They were planning to truck that garbage right back and dump it where it had come from. Until someone offered a better idea. The West Berliners instead filled the dump truck, but not with garbage. They filled it with canned goods and non-perishable food items. And they delivered it to the east side, all stacked neatly, and with a sign beside it. The sign simply said, "EACH GIVES WHAT HE HAS TO GIVE."

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Checking Your Cargo".

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Matthew 12:34- 35. Here's what Jesus says. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." Jesus suggests sort of a spiritual EKG here, to show what's going on in your heart. Just listen to how you talk, what you talk about. Your words continually betray what your heart is really full of. We unload verbally whatever cargo we have to give.

It might be revealing to hear taped excerpts of your conversations the last few days. Would we hear a lot of complaining? Or picking people apart? Is that what's in there? Some of us put out a lot of dark talk - negative things, depressing things, discouraging things. And then there's dirty talk - the little innuendoes, the quickness to pick up a double meaning, bedroom humor, bathroom humor. Delivering garbage to the people around us.

Or maybe the tape would reveal a lot talk about money or stress or anger or bitterness or just a lot of talk about yourself. We're all dumping one of two things on people - either garbage or goodies.

One good question to check ourselves with is this: How do people feel after they're been around me? Do they feel lighter or heavier? Do they feel bigger or smaller? Do they feel uplifted or dragged down? Now, according to Jesus, your talk is all about whatever you've been storing up in your heart - what you read, what to watch, what you listen to, what you laugh at, what you talk about on the phone, who you hang out with. And our conversation really matters to Jesus. He says, in fact, in Matthew 12:37, "By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned." Man, your words will be the basis for your judgment!

Maybe it's time to evaluate your mental and emotional diet. If your talk is too much trash, commit yourself to positive music, books, friends, media. And above all, be sure you have a non-negotiable time in the presence of Jesus Christ before you drive your truck out of your garage. Leave the garbage with Him each new day. And let Jesus Christ fill you up with cargo that will be a blessing for people today.

The people around you get enough garbage dumped on them. Why don't you leave them with a stack of goodies instead after they've been around you? After all, each one gives what he has to give.

Ron Hutchcraft

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Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: - 1 Peter 3:9-10


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