Text: Matthew 10:11-15
Memory verse:
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
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Someone once said, “There are two things you shouldn’t waste your time on: Things that don’t matter and people that think you don’t matter”. Yes, some people struggle to make themselves acceptable and loved by people who are determined not to love them. Life is too short to waste on people who don’t, respect, appreciate and value you.
“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.” (Matt 7:6 NLT).
Unlike today, dogs in the ancient times were dirty, roamed around the streets, ate from garbage dumps and sometimes attacked passersby. Swines were just as contemptible and filthy as dogs. They were not only unclean animals but could be vicious and were capable of savage attacks against people. So, dogs and swines describe profane people who treat spiritual matters with contempt; unbelievers who are enemies of the gospel; and people who don’t value precious things.
We are to freely give ourselves in love but we shouldn’t allow love to blind our discernment. We should be ready to share the gospel with everyone but not with those who are unwilling to accept or value it (Matt 10:13). You should be loving, warm and friendly but never force yourself on people who, rather than appreciating your friendship, turns back to attack and run you down. They destroy your self esteem and make you worthless.
The phrase “what is holy” refers to things set apart from common and profane uses and consecrated to God. It is used synonymously with “pearls”. Pearls, means what is precious, valuable, special, royal and of supreme worth. If you are born again, see yourself as the ‘holy thing’ and the ‘pearl’ that must not be given to unbelievers or people who don’t value you, to trample upon (Isa 43:4; 1 Pet 1:18-19; 2:9-10). You have been made holy and precious before the Lord. It is an abomination to give your body in marriage to an unbeliever; to profane a holy thing and to devalue and waste a pearl (2 Cor 6:14-15). Don’t let any pressure of marriage make you to waste a treasure of inestimable value, that you are! Don’t be deceived to put your white robe in the swine’s pen! You are too holy to be treated with contempt and too precious to be wasted.
Whatever defiles your body will devalue and destroy it. Fornication, adultery and all sexual sins will mess up your precious vessel (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:18-20). When Samson gave his ‘pearl’ to Delilah, the Philistines reduced the anointed deliverer to a grinder and an entertainer! What a waste! Adultery will reduce a precious soul to a loaf of bread ‭‭(Prov 6‬:‭26‬). Sexual sins are the devil’s traps to waste one’s preciousness.
Again, forcing yourself to correct, discipline or reprimand a scoffer and a wicked person will not only cause you to lose your respect but can also harm you (Prov 9:7-8). There are people who mock correction and wicked people, who will attack you for it, just like the dogs and swine. Rather than forcing them to reason with you and to appreciate your rebuke, it’s safer to keep praying for them. Don’t waste your time further trying to change them.
Friends, don’t waste your time and your life trying to open the heart that God hasn’t opened. Don’t let the devil waste, devalue and destroy you. Say, ‘no’ to the wasters.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to always appreciate my preciousness and to carry myself with dignity devoid of pride in Jesus name.
2. I refuse to defile my body, to be devalued and to allow the devil to waste my life in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I don’t waste my time trying to win people and seek the affirmation of those who don’t appreciate, respect, value me or don’t see anything good in me.
2. I flee from all sexual sins lest the enemy trample on me, turning me into a loaf of bread and a grinder.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng