I came across some notes I had written about the proverbial “your cup half-empty or half-full.” The saying goes if you look at your cup as “half-empty,” your attitude is pessimistic, and if you see your cup as “half-full,” you are an optimist.

Over the years, people have added that if you are “thankful that you have a cup” or that there is “something in your cup”, then you have a “grateful, humble heart.”

Through research, I discovered “a cup” has had various meanings throughout history.

“May I borrow a cup of flour or sugar” was very common during WWII because so many things were rationed and scarce. So, people shared “a cup.”

“Let’s meet for a cup of coffee” is a very familiar phrase for trying to get together.

However, Biblically, “a cup” has many important and deep meanings such as in Psalm 23:5b: “…my cup overflows.”

Today, our first reaction might be, if my cup is overflowing, you have spilled something and made a mess! But in the context of Psalm 23, the writer is thinking of God’s provision, protection and care. “My cup overflows” really has a symbolic meaning because of God’s generosity. I have more than enough. I have all I need and more in good times and in bad which is built on how much I trust God.

Basically, any reference to a “cup” deals with some form of filling or emptying, giving or receiving. The contents of your cup should always be moving, even in times of stillness, but not to the point of being stagnant. This is true, not just physically, but also spiritually.

Your faith should be growing as you transform (change, improve) by the renewing of your mind (replacing negative or sinful thoughts with those of God’s). How we think and what we believe directs how we act and what we value. Romans 12:2.

Our lives should have a constant flow of emptying what is not of God and filling in what is of God because every day we are exposed and influenced by what is worldly and not God’s character through daily activities, our senses and people living for themselves.

In Matthew 23, Jesus is admonishing the Pharisees, religious leaders of the dangers of their life choices. Verse 25: Jesus uses the cup as an example of their spirituality. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and indulgence.”

You can spend your time and resources on your appearance and your pleasure to look good, your importance and even you are better than others. The remedy Jesus says in verse 26 is to “first clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will be clean.”

What we put in our cup is vital to how our cup functions. What you hold in your cup, is what flows out of it. If your cup is full of selfishness and hate, you will not have genuine compassion and love for others. Thus, the age old saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” I can see my children smiling for how many times they have heard that phrase!

We can take this to a deeper level.

In Mark 10:35-45, Jesus explains to James and John, who want to sit on His right and left in heaven, what price this may cost them. Jesus asks them “Can you drink the cup I drink…?” Of course, they say “yes” but they really do not understand. Jesus was saying before they can experience the glory of heaven in this life there is adversity, suffering and difficulty as well as the good things they enjoy. And the “cup” Jesus must experience is beyond what they could imagine at this point in their lives.

Jesus agrees to let them share His “cup” but he cannot because it is not his decision who sits on His right or left. Jesus wants you to understand importance is not in your position, title or power, but in serving and loving God and others.

The depth of Jesus knowing the severity of the “cup” that is before Him is best seen as He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In Matthew 26:39, in His anguish, Jesus prays “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.” Here the “cup” represents what you are called to do, your life purpose. And the cup that Jesus carries is by far worse than anyone can imagine. It was so painful, Jesus asked the Father again in verse 42 and 44 to take this cup away. Jesus is obedient and fulfills His cup.

Your cup in life may have its ups and downs, joy or sadness or may be extremely difficult and hard. But Jesus emptied His cup with His suffering and dying for your sins. The good news is Jesus rose from the dead and you will also by giving Him your all. By emptying your cup of self and filling it with Jesus and overflowing to others.

What is the answer to having a “cup” with the mind of Christ? Starting to live like Jesus requires some self-examination.

First, what is in your cup? Do you truly believe in Jesus and receive His salvation? Are you willing to let go of some unhealthy choices both spiritually and physically? Willing to do as the Father asks and not your will?

No one is perfect. There is always room for improvement, something to let go of and something to add.

Start with your daily routine: what is important to you and how you spend your time? Unfortunately, the average Christian goes to church for one hour a week and expects that to be enough.

Just as God is on duty 24/7, so is the devil. For example, one hour a week is 52 hours a year given to God. However, you have 24 hours in a day, that equals 168 hours a week and means you have 8,736 hours in a year. Minus the time you spend eating and sleeping, your one hour a week still does not measure up to how much time you spend on other activities! How can this be improved? Spend more time with God in prayer, worship and reading and studying the scriptures versus time spent on social media, video games, TV and movies with worldly content.

The mind of Christ goes beyond ourselves, there is the outside of your cup as well.

Matthew 10 gives examples of service you can share with others such as verse 42 by your “giving a cup of cold water” is an action of a true disciple of God because Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:35-40, 42-45, “whatever you did for the least of these you did for me.”

Your reaching out and helping the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the sick or those in prison is as doing the same for Jesus. As well as ignoring them is like ignoring Jesus.

And then there is how you spend your money. It is always a good practice not only to balance your checkbook but also weigh and measure where your money is going. How much to the Lord, the church, missionaries or those in need and how much is spent on your pleasures and treasures.

I trust this writing will stir a hunger for you to find other teachings in the Bible about your cup. I pray that this is the beginning of how you are living your life with both the emptying, cleaning and filling the inside and outside of your cup for Jesus. The choice is yours.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from retired pastor, Janis Heiser.