I have had a lot of guilty feelings. I know my emotions are not in charge so feeling guilty does not mean I am guilty but feeling guilty still feels crummy. Some of you were blessed with a personality and upbringing that will make this blog impossible for you to understand so you can stop reading now and be thankful. Some of us feel guilty about “waste.” Let me be clear, I don’t do whatever I do simply because I feel guilty. That’s a depressing way to live that often leads to resentment and bitterness. That said, I have often struggled with feelings of guilt over my use of time and money. There is so much to be done. There are so many needs. There is poverty in the world. Some people don’t have fresh drinking water. There are books to read, people to love, yards to rake, prayers to pray, sermons to be written, neighbors who need Christ, children that need mentors, missionaries that need money…this list goes on and on and on. In spite of all these “needs” I plop down to watch an episode of NCIS, I eat food at a restaurant instead of making a sandwich, I go fishing or go for a walk and sometimes I take way too long in the shower. I realized a few years ago that some people “just go for a drive” instead of “driving to some place.” At first it seemed like a waste of money and time to just “go for a drive.” “To what end,” I would think. The Protestant work ethic went awry when it married the Industrial Revolution. Add a depression era hangover to a Type-A personality and there is serious need for therapy in there somewhere! “Make hay while the sun shines.” “Get the most bang for your buck.” Maybe a healthy dose of theology would help us. In fact, the more I study the life and teachings of Jesus, the more peace I have. He said, “Come to Me and find rest for your souls.” He said, “See all that need? Pray for God to raise up more workers.” He said that our giving multiplies in ways that only a supernatural kingdom can make possible. He said that we work while it is day and rest when it is night. He said that His Father is always working and we work with Him NOT for Him. In our text for Sunday we’ll learn about what is truly wasteful and what is actually worship. It’s odd how one can look like the other. Mary (sister of Lazarus) poured the most expensive perfume I’ve ever heard of over the head and feet of Jesus. Judas thought this was a despicable waste of money and the rest of the disciples joined his murmuring. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ response to this utilitarian thinking. Apparently there is such a thing as time and money well wasted. May God grant us wisdom to know the difference, a heart to discern His ways and bit more contentment rather than more guilt.