February 18

And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” — John 6:12 BSB

It’s striking that the same Jesus who could so easily multiply five loaves to feed thousands would also be so particular about gathering up the fragments afterward. But Jesus was teaching us the importance of economy. No matter how great our abundance, we should take care of the fragments. After we have eaten at our tables, there are hungry people who would be grateful for the leftovers we consider insignificant.

This principle applies to more than just food. It also applies to the fragments of time. Many busy people waste whole years of their lives in the minutes lost every day. If, at the end of a year, they could gather up all these wasted moments, they would find many hours of precious time they could have used for good.

We should also take care not to waste our energy. Many people squander their physical strength on trivial pursuits, forgetting that their strength belongs to God and should be used for His glory.

Likewise, we must be careful not to waste our affections on unworthy objects or people.

There is no limit to how this principle applies. We must give an account for everything we have—every minute of time, every bit of strength, and even the smallest fragments of food left on our tables.