A while back I saw an article in the NYTIMES about how much water it takes to manufacture one pair of jeans. Levi Strauss and Company reported that “from the cotton field in rural India to the local rag bin, a typical pair of blue jeans consumes 919 gallons of water during its life cycle.” That would include water for irrigation, water used for the sewing process and all the washing in our homes.

As you might imagine, to help protect the company’s bottom line, Levi Strauss has become involved in all manner of water conservancy projects across the globe. That article also provided some advice for the consumer. They suggested that we skip washing our jeans and instead just put them in the freezer. Apparently, that kills germs that cause them to smell!

Water is a major issue for the world. When that article first came out, it cost about $.60 per cubic meter in the U.S., but it costs over $5 per cubic meter in countries like Columbia. Americans consume about 600 liters a day. Those at risk around the world only consume 20 liters a day.

Over a billion people in developing countries do not have access to water and 1.4 million of them die each year because of it. Clearly water is an issue. And we Christians ought to pay attention to major subjects like this and get involved in some way.

But let’s also consider what the Bible has to say about water. There is an important discussion about it in John chapter 4 where Jesus confronts a Samaritan woman regarding the pattern of her life. He also asks for a drink.

She is shocked that He would even speak to her (a woman from a hated rival race of people). The punch line to that conversation is Jesus’ statement that He personally is THE living water. If she had asked for a drink from Him (established a relationship with Him as Savior), He would have offered a spring that would well up into eternal life.

This week, that message ought to reverberate through all of us. Christ offers us Himself and when we embrace Him, we get life and life more abundant!

So next time you take a drink of water (or wash your jeans), remember the offer Jesus makes to all of us. Let’s drink deeply from His life and His ministry. It will change our lives!