Since I am moving into a tiny house and have been getting rid of most of my belongings, I have been doing a lot of business on Craigslist.  It’s not my favorite thing in the world (since you never know who or what you’re gonna get), but I actually had a lot of success with it this time around.  I managed to sell all of my furniture and even a few random things, including one that I thought I’d never get rid of – a leather cover for my Volkswagen convertible.  But even with that, there was someone out there that needed the exact thing that I was getting rid of.

It made me realize that this is always the case, whether we realize it or not.  There is always someone out there, somewhere, that needs something that we have to give.  Sure, in this case, I was selling stuff on Craigslist… but how often do we throw out things that we no longer want or need without giving it a second thought?  Clothes, shoes, towels or even unopened food.  We have become so accustomed as a society to having so much, that we are comfortable with disposing of our “excess.”  But we need to remember what is excessive to us, might be a treasure to someone else.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”  -Hebrews 13:16

God wants us to share what we have with others.  But He doesn’t want us to just share our sloppy seconds or wait until we’re “done” with something.  Give generously from your heart, give joyfully and give what you know others are needing.  Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Next time you’re giving to the food bank, don’t reach to the back of the pantry and give them the anchovies and the expired food.  Give them the same delicious, healthy foods that you enjoy with your family.
• If you pass a homeless person on the corner and you have a $1 and a $5 in your wallet, don’t be stingy and keep the $5 for yourself… be generous, that might end up leading to the only meal they get that day!
• Instead of just mindlessly dropping your clothes and shoes off to the local Goodwill (although they are a good cause too!), why not see if there’s a specialty charity in your neighborhood with specific needs like an abused women’s shelter or Dress for Success?  Or ask your church if there’s a specific individual in your community that has a need.