Being greedy with our leftovers

Recently, I learned of a new store in St. Cloud that will pay you for your gently used articles of clothing, and then resell them for a profit (actually 3x what they pay you for the item).  At first glance, I thought it was a great idea.  But, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if it just wasn’t greedy and actually hurting those in need.  Allow me to explain.

On this particular Saturday, our first stop was Goodwill to drop off some articles of clothing, and some other items for donation.  Our second stop was to this thrift store to drop off some better articles of clothing and receive some cash for these items that otherwise would have been donated to Goodwill.  Like I said at first I thought what a great idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I became convicted that something just wasn’t right about the concept.

If the items really are of little to no use to you anymore, why not just outright give them to someone or someplace that can put them to a good use?  Why try to eek out every last cent from an item for which you no longer have use?  If our purpose in life is really to love others, how is being greedy with our leftovers serving to carry out that goal? [note: I am an auctioneer, routinely sell personal property of others, and fully realize that I'm being hypocritical.  I further realize I'd be without a job if the world actually adopted what I'm about to propose.]

Think if instead of trying to eek out every last cent, we found someone who could really use the item, and outright gave it to them.  How would our world be different?  I can’t help but think it’d be an awesome place.  I also can’t help but think that we’d be much happier and content.  In the end, we ended up getting $15 for four items and a bag of clothes that the store wouldn’t take which we ended up taking to Goodwill.  In the end, we would have been better off just giving all the items to Goodwill, or finding someone who we knew would have been blessed by us giving them the items.

In fact, I know for a fact, that when I’ve given things away to others (an iPod Touch, and Garmin GPS are just a few of the items that come to mind), I’ve experienced so much more happiness and joy than had I just sold the item.  After my experience I’m convicted that I need to look at how I use my stuff and how I handle the disposition of my leftovers.  I’m hoping that I continue to challenge myself to give freely to those in need around me.