For the months of June and July our offices work 40 hours Monday through Thursday and closes on Friday to save electricity. For each Friday I have off, I have selected an area of the house to clean/purge. The first week it was our file cabinet. I took three big shopping bags of paper to the shredders. 
Last Friday I tackled the pantry. I just don’t know how it happens. The oldest date I found was a box of pudding mix from 2008. It was pistachio flavored. I bought it to make a jello salad that never happened. I threw away items that had been in the pantry for several years and just reached their expiration date such as a jar of molasses. I can’t even remember how long I have had it. I use it about twice a year when I make ham and beans. I will have to get a new one now. There were also items such as a package of hot dog buns that had just recently been purchased for a Memorial Day cookout, but were already non-edible. Every item in my pantry was bought for a reason. I had a plan and purpose in mind for every item when I put it in my grocery cart. It is just that some items were used for their purpose and some just sat on the shelf until their time was up.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Like the items in the pantry, God has created each and everyone of us for a purpose. We are to walk in love, light and wisdom (Ephesians 5). We are to live a life that bares the fruit of the Spirit demonstrating love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22 & 23). “Above all, love each other deeply, …. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others” 1 Peter 4:8-9. Actually loving one another is such an important part of our purpose there are over 30 verses telling us to do so.
Back to the pantry. For all of the food I threw out that had not been used for its purpose, we almost daily use something from the pantry for the purpose it was originally purchased. What I wonder is am I living in a way where I can be used to my full purpose or am I just sitting on the shelf taking the path of least resistance?
It is obvious we as humans have a shelf-life just like the box of cereal or the bottle of balsamic vinegar. For reasons I can’t explain or even begin to understand, everyone has a different shelf-life. Some are born with a short shelf-life like Oreo cookies and can complete their purpose in life quickly while others, like a bag of rice, have years to complete their purpose in life. The question is are you making the most of the shelf-life you have been given? Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in your actions? Personally, I have some days that are better than others and some fruits that are more abundant than others. Kindness – for the most part, I am by nature kind to others. However, self-control is a topic for later discussion. It just doesn’t come naturally for me. No matter, I am committed to trying to live my entire shelf-life to the best of my ability as I can only do with God’s help. And with His help, I will not spend my life just taking up space on the pantry shelf.
View From My Shoes 