Storing Stuff vs. Stewardship

Something had to be done about all the stuff stored in the garage.

So, last week I decided to spend fifteen minutes every day “making a dent” in the dozens of boxes that got thrown into the garage during last summer’s hurried move.

The boxes I needed to reorganize contained the best of the best of my sewing supplies. I’d given away no less than twenty boxes of fabric when we moved four years ago, but I’d kept my favorite cuts for special projects I just knew I’d find time to make. I’d given away hundreds of patterns but kept a few dozen I was certain I’d use “someday.” And I’d hung onto all my expensive tools and supplies: sewing machine, serger, countless specialty feet, snap and grommet fasteners, packages of seam binding, yards of elastic, buttons galore, and so much more!

A gorgeous 6-yard cut of a camel-and-cream herringbone silk/wool blend was in the first box. I’d purchased it, oh about ten years ago, specifically to make Daniel what was sure to be a stunning long coat. (I’d kept the pattern for the navy wool coat I made him during our first year of marriage 22 years ago.)

However, while lovingly lifting the fabric from the box, I suddenly dropped it in disgust, as a shower of mouse droppings scattered over the garage floor. Upon closer inspection, I saw – to my utter dismay – yellow spots all over the top of the fabric. Hoping against hope that most of the fabric could yet be cleaned and salvaged, I shook it out to its full length…and discovered that the little vermin had gnawed ragged holes through all six yards (for which I’d originally paid $20+ per.)

I felt sick.

As I stuffed the ruined fabric in the trash can, I rued the waste of good money and the loss of beautiful fabric. Someone could have used that fabric if I hadn’t kept it in storage.

I looked around the garage. Someone could use ALL of this stuff if I quit insisting on storing it!

***

According to Mirriam-Webster, stewardship is “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells of three servants who receive money from their master. Two put the money to immediate use; one buries it. When the master returns, he says a hearty, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” to those who have taken action with the money, inviting them to “enter into the joy” of their master.

But the servant who stored the stuff is condemned as “wicked and lazy” for his failure to at least allow others to put the master’s wealth to good use.

***

So began the Great Gregory Give-Away.

Annemarie and I pulled out all the boxes marked “Christmas Decor” and ruthlessly sorted. Anything broken we trashed. Anything not used in the last four years (two moves) went in the “Give Away” pile. We set a dozen boxes near the community mail boxes in the Administration Building (we live on a boarding school campus) and I sent out a mass e-mail, letting everyone know that that there was FREE STUFF waiting to be re-owned. Everything was gone in less than a day.

This week, I had Daniel take all boxes of “sewing stuff” out of storage. A carload of boxes got moved into my classroom, where I’ve spread out the fabric, the notions, the tools, the patterns… all of the stuff I’ve been storing “for someday” since Annemarie (who turns 20 in March) was 10. And I’ve sent an e-mail to everyone on campus, inviting them to let themselves in and take whatever they can use.

Several friends have urged me to slow down, to list the “valuable” items on eBay or Craig’s List. “You could get some money for that!” they assure me, warning me against the wasteful extravagance of just giving everything away.

But focusing on money is what motivated me to store all this stuff in the first place. Knowing “how much I paid for it” or “how much it’s worth” caused me to stuff stuff into boxes, to stuff shelving units with boxes, to stuff a garage full of shelving units. I shudder to think about how much money have I already wasted by storing perfectly good stuff until it’s past use.

I clearly have much to learn about “the careful and responsible management” of the wealth God has “given away” to me. I’ve prided myself in being faithful to pay my tithes and offerings, but that’s not what stewardship is about. Stewardship involves everything He’s entrusted to my care.

So, I’ll start with my garage…and see where He leads from there.