Wasted Time, Wasted Effort, Wasted Life

Psalm 135

Why do we spend so much time on things that don’t really matter?  Why do we get so jacked up on stuff that has no sense of permanence?  It could be anything:  sports, food, pleasure, booze, sex, stuff, entertainment, the list could go on and on.  I’m just as guilty as anyone of spending so much time and effort on stuff that isn’t really important.  If we’re not careful, those things can become our idols.

They can become our gods.  They can waste our life.

Look what Psalm 135:15-18 says:

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them!

The entire Psalm is about God’s providence–how He is in control.  We spend so much time trying to be in control of our lives.  We expend so much time and effort on dead things that cannot offer any real sense of hope for today much less eternity.  If we’re not careful, we’ll end up just like them.

Cold.  Lifeless.  Without hope.  And we won’t have to wait on death for that to happen.

What idols are we allowing to waste our time, effort and life?