Maybe you’ve heard the assertion, “God doesn’t make junk.” I’ve usually heard it as “God don’t make no junk,” which is the same thing.

But — hear me out — maybe He does.

The term “junk” is used in modern English as something that is trash or scrap, or (in verb usage) to trash or scrap something.

But let’s look at the earlier uses of the word, just for the sake of it.

The term “junke” was commonly used in the mid-14th century to refer to “old cable or rope” that was cut into bits and used for caulking in ships. Its meaning was extended to “old refuse from boats and ships” in the 1600s then to “old or discarded articles of any kind” in the late 19th century, with a suggestion of reusability, however.

Another meaning of “junk” was an early-17th century term to refer to a “large, seagoing Chinese sailing ship.” This usage was derived from the Malay word “jong,” which meant a ship or large boat.

Looking at the term as it was originally used — cable, rope, rush or reed bits — we can easily see it referred to something small and useful in certain situations. A pile of these bits might be seen as worthless in a different setting, but they were essential to help prevent leaks between planks and other materials on sea-faring vessels.

Concrete, tar, metal and similar substances were all used as caulking materials prior to the invention of the polymer-based tubed substances we know today. The rather inexpensive tubes of painters caulk are a very popular item in any hardware or home improvement store. I worked at a national chain for years, and sold thousands of the tubes regularly, often by the full pallet. People use it for all kinds of projects, and some people in the South call it “corking.” I told a customer once who had asked for cork that we no longer carried it because it was not a big seller. He thought I must be kidding.

“Like what painters use? In a tube?” he asked.

“Oh! Caulk!” I answered.

“Yeah, cork.”

I learned a new word (or usage) that day. He bought a couple of tubes of “cork” and was on his way.

Anyway, “junk” is useful in certain cases.

Ever heard the phrase, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”?

So many times God’s people are guilty of seeing a person or a situation and declaring him, her or it as “junk” — worthless, broken and irredeemable. Yet God can redeem any situation — don’t ever doubt it. He can bring something good out of it! And no person has ever existed who was not created in the image of God. That means they are not worthless, no matter what anyone may think.

But maybe they seem like junk to society. Maybe you seem like junk to someone else. But God made you. Even if you are “junk” to someone else, you are useful. You have a purpose.

I wouldn’t want to be at sea on a ship that was not caulked properly. One tiny piece of “junk,” wedged from its place, could allow enough water in to take the ship down, along with its cargo and passengers. No one may have thought that piece of any value … until then.

Maybe God doesn’t make junk — He certainly doesn’t make anything or anyone worthless. But if we consider that junk has worth, even if we don’t know what it is yet, then maybe God makes junk, after all.

News editor Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.