In your mind, go in your home to the top of your dresser (or wherever you keep important objects from the past). What’s there? Photos? How old are they? Do they include anyone who has died since the photos were made? Are there ticket stubs from a concert or sports event? Who went with you to that and are they still important to you?

Look in the top drawer of the dresser. If yours is like mine, there are all kinds of objects just thrown in (somewhat like the catch-all drawer in the kitchen). Mine includes a formal bow tie, small flashlights that no longer work, an old wallet, socks I don’t wear, and official papers which are no longer relevant. Is anything you find there toss-able?

We now have a huge dumpster at the church building ready to receive junk found in every nook and cranny here. These things were once deemed valuable – to somebody – now, they are refuse.

In one of our readings for Sunday [Philippians 3:8-11], Paul talks about how hard he had worked in the past trying to earn righteousness, almost like merit badges. Now he considers it all rubbish because of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus as his righteousness. What would cause you to reevaluate everything? Would it just be time, turning important stuff from the past into dusty debris? Could a relationship make that big of a difference for you?

In the other scripture reading for Sunday [John 12:1-8], we have Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with very expensive perfume in gratitude for bringing her brother Lazarus back to life. Judas criticizes her for wasting money that could have gone to the poor but Jesus affirms her. How do you make a judgement call about whether something is valuable for now only… or eternal – how to spend your money, time, effort, reputation?

I look forward to worshipping with you Sunday at 9:00 am in the Sanctuary.