Losing the Dross

A few months back, when reading Proverbs 25, my mind settled on verse 4 as I thought about the meaning of the word “dross”. The Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines dross as:

“Waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.”

How often do we, as Christians, try to cling to the “waste matter; refuse; impure matter” from which God desires to separate us?

Losing the Dross

Jesus keep me near the cross; familiar hymn we sing.

If God did grant this one desire,

Just what loss would it bring?

Our “rights”? Our pride? Own strength relied?

The weights to which we cling?

To lose the dross may seem great loss,

While drawing us nearer, nearer to the cross.

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever.

If God did grant this one desire,

Just what ties would He sever?

Our dreams? Our plans? Selfish demands?

Our own life-long endeavors?

The severed dross may seem great loss,

While drawing us nearer, nearer to the cross.

Sometimes, when loss we suffer,

We oft’ need this reminder.

To lose the dross, we shall come forth

A vessel for the finer!

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.”  Proverbs 25:4

~ Rachel ~