Suspicious Sawdust

Every day, a factory worker would push a wheelbarrow to the gate, carrying a small box of sawdust. The guard stationed there grew suspicious. What was the worker up to? Why the sawdust?

Each time the man approached, the guard stopped him, sure he was hiding something. He’d dump out the box, sift through the sawdust, and look for anything valuable. But no matter how thorough he was, he found nothing, just sawdust.

Day after day, week after week, the same scene played out. The guard inspected, the worker waited patiently, and each time the man left with his wheelbarrow, seemingly empty-handed.

This went on for months. The guard, frustrated but unable to catch the man doing anything wrong, eventually resigned himself to the routine. Then, one day, the worker retired.

Relieved of his duties, the guard could not let his curiosity go unanswered. Stopping the worker for one last conversation, he said, “Look, it’s over now. I know you were up to something all those years. Tell me the truth, what were you stealing?” The worker smiled knowingly and replied, “Wheelbarrows.”

The guard’s heart sank as the realization hit him. It had been right in front of him all along, but he was so focused on the sawdust, he missed the bigger picture.

In our Christian walk, how often do we do the same thing? We get caught up in the small, distracting details of life, the worries, the busyness, the questions of “Why is this happening?” or “What should I do?” We focus so intently on the “sawdust” that we lose sight of the bigger picture: God’s plan, His presence, and His purpose for our lives.

The Bible reminds us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” Matthew 6:33.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, the distractions fade, and the truth becomes clear. Like the wheelbarrows in the story, God’s blessings, purpose, and guidance are often right in front of us. But if we are too consumed by the noise of daily life, we might miss them.

Are there things in your life distracting you from what God wants you to see?

Are you sifting through the sawdust, looking for meaning, while missing the simple, profound truth that Christ is the center of it all?

Ask Him for discernment, for clarity, and for the ability to trust in His bigger plan. Do not let the wheelbarrows of His grace and purpose pass you by.

by Jeanette Stark - Friday, January 10, 2025