Using resources and time wisely

We’re finally beginning to talk about waste in western societies like ours. And some of the statistics are quite frightening. It’s recently emerged that food waste in Australia costs the economy around $36.6 billion each year as we throw out 7.6 million tonnes of food across the supply and consumption chain. In terms more easily digested, (forgive the pun – please), this wastage equals about 312kg per person and is the equivalent of around one in five bags of groceries – or $2,000 to $2,500 per household per year! With so much talk about increases in the cost of living in this country, these statistics- and the reality they illuminate – are difficult to understand. More than that, in view of the poverty and hunger rampant in many parts of the world, where millions have insufficient food to sustain life, it becomes a question of morality!

Another topic that’s receiving plenty of media attention is the cost of energy. Not long ago, many suburbs on the Northern Beaches of Sydney were blacked out when the power grid proved incapable of meeting demand. The relevant minister pleaded for households to limit their power consumption – to conserve energy so that there would be enough to meet everybody’s needs. The immediate crisis passed. So, the same minister re-appeared on television to announce that there was now no need to conserve energy!
Hello??!!  Why is it sensible to suddenly revert to wasteful – or thoughtless – ways of living when the prudent thing to do would be to continue with our energy-conserving habits?

Many years ago, a prominent political figure and diplomat recorded the following comment in his daily journal: “Went fishing with my son today. A day wasted.” His son also kept a diary. On that particular day, he wrote: “Went fishing with my father today – the most wonderful day of my life!” Clearly, the father thought he was wasting his time spending the day fishing with his son. But his son saw it as an investment of time – as something valuable and need-satisfying.
This example serves to remind us that the way to tell the difference between wasting time and investing in time is to know one’s ultimate purpose in life – and to judge accordingly. 
It’s as clear as the nose on one’s face that the vast majority of people in our society consider that spending time in church – in worship – is a waste of time. That they could be doing other, more profitable things like playing sport or going out for a picnic. And if our focus is so narrow that our purpose in life is to simply live for the moment, this seems entirely reasonable. However, if we have a more expansive view of life and an intention to invest decisively in the future, it’s also reasonable to suggest that we need to consider those things which will satisfy our spiritual needs.
My own experience is that time spent worshipping our creator and God, is not only an investment that adds richness and joy to the anticipation of a life of eternity with our loving heavenly Father, but a thoroughly enjoyable time of close fellowship, fun and laughter with other like-minded people. Far from a waste of time, attending church and worshipping God is an awesome, on-going, life-changing experience – with an investment in eternity!