"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted" (John 6:12b).

God is particular about our fragments, our bits and pieces and what we do with them: fragments of time and opportunity, thoughts and actions. Jesus asked His disciples to gather the broken pieces that represent what is left over from His bounty. When God feeds us, He feasts us! He is able to do exceeding abundantly above that which we ask, even. But He does not want us to waste the fragments from His abundance.

Gathering fragments does not mean to stockpile. When the Israelites were in the desert, they were told not to gather manna on the seventh day (Exodus 16:26). They were to trust in their God that He would furnish their needs for that day, also; that there was no need to hoard provisions when God had promised to provide their daily bread.

With God little things assume great importance. He gives us all things to enjoy, but He also is concerned about the cup of cold water that we give in His name; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but He takes notice when a sparrow falls. We think nothing of killing time, that precious substance that makes up life, only to wish it back when the seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, months and years have suddenly gone and we are old and sorry for the wasted times and words.

But the saddest waste of all is the wasted life which is epidemic today. God surely weeps as He watches humankind destroy itself with drugs and pornography and violence. Some of the most grievous words in God's Word are, "...The younger son...squandered his wealth in wild living" (Luke 15:13). The parent who has buried a child wasted from riotous living knows well how the little things make or break us. "Let nothing be wasted," especially one for whom our beloved Jesus died!