the left-over god

Isaiah 44:6-20
     A creative cook can recycle left-overs into several meals. For example, that fabulous Thanksgiving Turkey becomes turkey sandwhiches, then turkey casserole and turkey soup. Personally, I don't mind left-overs when it comes to food and I often wore hand-me-down clothes as a boy.
      Growing up we were most often at grandma's house for Sunday dinner. Because of the great number of cousins, the adults ate first and the kids gathered around the 'second table', i.e., the left-overs. There was always plenty of most foods, but not the best parts of the fried chicken and sometimes the gravy for the mashed potatoes was a bit skimpy, but we made do.
     The prophet Isaiah uses the idea of the left-overs of life to make a god for worship. Note that God first identifies Himself and clearly states that there is no other God besides Himself (vs 6). He then further asserts His power by mentioning His omniscience in prophetic utterances (vs 7).
       So, because of Who He Is and because of What He Has Said, He declares the foolishness of graven images formed by the efforts of men out of the left-overs of life. He points our that men make idols our of the very materials used to sustain life. Man uses wood to warm himself when cold, to cook his food when hungry and then, from the left-overs, he makes a god to worship (vs 17).
       Verse 19 expresses surprise in the irony of this attitude - that the very things man uses to sustain life should become the focus of  his worship; nor does such a one see the deception in this behavior (vs 20).
       If we think that real life consists of the things we possess, we have missed the words of our Lord Jesus who said just the opposite in Luke 12:15 "...for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." KJV Additionally, if we think that our existence is due to our own efforts and abilities, we might have the tendency to worship what we have accomplished; but, when we realize and acknowledge that ultimately all things are of God, our worship rises to Him.
       Using left-over food in creative ways is one thing, but to assume that the food itself deserves our worship would be foolish. Yet, how often do we, without thinking, give to God our left-overs? We attempt to worship Him by offering our left-over time, our left-over talents and our left-over treasures. Does not He, Who gave His all for us, deserve first place in our lives?
       The hymn for us to sing today is "I Gave My Life for Thee", written by Francis Havergal when she was only 22 years old. She was visiting friends in Prussia (now Germany), where she saw a large painting of the crucifixion of Christ with the motto: "This have I done for thee; what has thou done for Me?" Later, Mr. Philip Bliss wrote the music now used. It is worth the reading.