IN THE TRASH
by Craig Castleberry
Scripture: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
Theme: Usefulness, God's Will, Talents
Opening Scene: A large trash can sits center stage. A lady approaches the trash can with some letters to be mailed and is licking the final stamp (face sours with the bad taste) and placing it on the envelope. Another lady from opposite stage walks toward her as the lady with the mail drops all of her mail in the trash can. The other lady stops suddenly.
Lady #2: Hey, why did you do that?
Lady #1: Do what?
Lady #2: Throw your mail into the trash can.
Lady #1: It's a mailbox.
Lady #2: It is not! There is trash already in there. Your mail will never be delivered. You're not from around here are you?
Lady #1: You mean, the mail carrier won't deliver from this mailbox?
Lady #2: It is NOT a mailbox and no, your mail will not be delivered!
Lady #1: Well, what if I put extra postage on…
Lady #2: (Interrupting) NO! They will not be delivered. They will not be found. They will not be opened. They will not be read. They will be lost forever.
Lady #1: (Taking the mail out of the trash) Wow, they were ready to go. They were written well, sealed correctly, stamped, addressed, but they never would have made it.
Lady #2: They have to be in the right place to be effective, or they will never do what they were intended to do.
Lady #1: (Reaching her hand out and shaking the lady's hand) Thank you, that would be a terrible thing, to have everything ready and never be used.
Lady #2: By the way, where ARE you from?
Lady #1: Skitsville. It's between Oakland and Honolulu.
Lady #2: (Looking more confused) I can see how you would have missed the mailbox thing. (Both Ladies exit)
THE END
What good works have you done this week?
Just like the lady with the mail, we have talents and abilities that many times are thrown in the trash…never used…never accomplishing what they were there to be used for. Sometimes, like the lady and the "mailbox," it looks like they are being used, but we are only fooling ourselves. Sometimes it takes another believer to wake us and shake us before we realize how unhelpful we have been for the kingdom!
Until the mail or "talents" are in the right place, they will not be effective. Before those talents can be in the right place, WE have to be in the right place. That will require much prayer and God will show you the way.
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…" Colossians 1:9-10
© 2004 by Craig Castleberry
www.freechurchskits.com