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Dross or Gold
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the verb “to consume” in several ways. One of the definitions means “to take all of a person's attention, energy, and time.”
Shopaholics spend all of their time at the mall.
Alcoholics spend all of their time in the beer hall.
Workaholics spend all of their time climbing the corporate ladder.
Exercise freaks spend all of their time in the gym.
Paparazzi spend all of their time chasing celebrities.
Philanthropists spend all of their time doing good deeds.
Monks spend all of their time in pursuit of holiness.
I have to take a step back and ask myself, “What is consuming all of my attention, my energy, my time?”
To be perfectly honest, I allow things that are petty and insignificant to consume a lot of my time. I spend too much time watching TV. I spend too much time playing games on the computer. I spend too much time worrying about things, over which I have no control.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary also defines “to consume” as “to destroy something by fire.”
One of my favorite hymns is “How Firm a Foundation.” One of the verses goes like this...
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”
I am inclined to believe that whatever I allow to consume my attention, energy, and time had better be able to stand up to a trial by “holy” fire. When that time comes... when I go through that “consuming” fire... I pray that the things that consumed my attention, my energy, and my time reveal more gold than dross.
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“How Firm a Foundation” was published in 1787, and attributed to John Keith.
Definitions were taken from The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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