April 10, 2017
Romans 11:33-36
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
Now this will be a strange Bible study – Lessons From TP! And just what is TP? Toilet Paper! Last week at our home Bible study, my friend Chuck told about the most memorable sermon his pastor preached at his church in a long time. It involved what we can learn about God from Toilet Paper! And I thought it was a neat idea! So here goes…!
The Scripture I have chosen is Paul’s exclamation of praise from Romans 11:33 through 36 – after he has spent three chapters of heartfelt teaching concerning Israel, his own nation, and their unbelief. In essence, the apostle tells us that Israel has been blinded by their unbelief in the Messiah, and (except for a remnant like himself who believe in Jesus Christ) that unbelief will continue “…until the fulness of the Gentiles [non-Jews] has come in.” (Romans 11:25). Here is our featured Scripture:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His
counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to
him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to
whom be glory forever. Amen.
How can this be related to Toilet Paper?!!!
• For the job at hand, God provides what we need! It says so in Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In his sermon, Chuck’s pastor told of an uncle who was thrifty to a fault. When his nephews and nieces came to his house, he allowed only two squares of toilet paper per bathroom visit! Everyone knows that two squares is hardly enough in most cases!
God knows our needs – even the very personal needs we have! (See II Kings 19:27; Psalm 139:1-6; Matthew 6:31, 32; John 2:24, 25). And, as stated above in Philippians 4:19, He will provide what is needed! (See also Psalm 23:1; II Corinthians 9:8).
• The Lord freely gives us what we need! And our chief need is to be reconciled to Him! (See II Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:21). It certainly wasn’t free for Him. It cost Him the life of His own dear Son! (See John 3:16; Romans 5:8; I John 3:16; 4:9). After meeting our chief need – the cost of which is the greatest that God could ever pay – His giving what it takes to meet all our other needs is a lesser cost than what He has already provided! So Paul says in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ” (See also Romans 5:8-10).
God’s free gift is that of Jesus Christ! But toilet paper isn’t free! Well, no, it isn’t. But since you can buy a roll of a thousand sheets for 99 cents (or sometimes less), each square only costs just under 1/10 of one cent! The point is, while not free, how many squares of toilet paper we need to accomplish our mission is really extremely affordable!
By the way, back in 1996 my wife and I traveled to Cairo, Egypt on a tour. Just inside the entrance to the women’s restroom, an Egyptian lady was selling toilet paper squares – each one for 25 cents! We are blessed in America to have the necessary commodities available at such affordable prices! Think of that, and thank God the next time you use the facilities!
• By necessity, toilet paper must be made available to us as sterile as possible! Otherwise infections could occur.
The purity of Jesus is beyond question and reproach! In I Peter 2:22 (International Standard Version) we are told: “He never sinned, and he never told a lie.” He was pure and perfect! (See Hebrews 5:9 – KJV). And He had to be perfect to be the sacrifice to pay for our sins! He is called in I Peter 1:19 (New American Standard Bible, 1977), “…a lamb unblemished and spotless….”
• I know this can be controversial to a minority of folks, but the proper way to install a roll of toilet paper is so that it unwinds over the top! Okay, I concede that with small children around who just love to spin the roll to see it unwind, it is practical to reverse the installation so the toilet paper unrolls from the back and bottom. But for our purpose, the correct way is over the top!
God – in His love, blessing, provision, protection, etc. – is ‘over the top’! It says so in Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us….” What power is that? It is the Holy Spirit ministering to us, in us, and through us, the unlimited power of God!
There is probably more we could learn from toilet paper, but this is enough! So the next time you occupy the ‘necessary room’, consider the Lessons From TP! Perhaps you will then even exclaim as Paul did in our featured Scripture of Romans 11:33 through 36:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His
counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to
him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to
whom be glory forever. Amen.
Or maybe you will just shorten it to the II Corinthians 9:15 version: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! ”