It was 3 and a half years ago
today that my life forever changed. It all began with a fire pit. In Michigan,
where we lived for most of our married life, the general consensus is that the
best fire pit is the inside of a washer drum. At first I wasn't a believer.
Then I went to the junkyard and got one. Amazing. Light, portable and full of
holes to let air through provides the most even flame and a rust free fire
experience. You should give it a try. When we moved to Virginia I began looking
on Craigslist for free washers to make my fire pit. I found a pair of them for
free, loaded them on my trailer and brought them home only to discover that the
drums were made of plastic. Bummer. My wife, after seeing them sit in our
garage for three weeks begged me to get them out of there. I had no idea where
to take them so I googled "landfills recycling" and a place in
Frederick Maryland popped up on the screen. I made my way up there and pulled
up on the scale, asked for directions, and disposed of the trashed machines. I
weighed out and then proceeded to the window to find out the damage. The woman
behind the desk said "that will be 40 dollars sir". I was shocked. I
said "it is going to cost me 40 dollars to drop off two washers???"
She laughed and said no! "You GET 40 dollars!" In all honesty I
thought I was on a hidden camera show. I said "so let me get this
straight, I bring you metal, and you give me cash?" "Yes sir!" I
remember thinking that this may be one of the best days of my life. I drove
straight home and cleaned out all of my barns loading all the junk the previous
owner had left that was metallic in nature and made a return trip. "That
will be 120 dollars sir". That's how it all began. Jason's Junk and
recycling. On my days off and on my way to work I drive a route that allows me
to pick up metal objects that would other wise end up in a landfill and a real
nice lady in Frederick Maryland gives me money for it. Genius. Since that day,
I have paid for every vacation, covered Christmas costs for those in need
within my family, and became the largest monthly giver for the missions
organization we are a part of. All with trash. It is, if
I am being honest
quite humbling. My truck often looks like Jed Clampet helped me load it, but
the reward is worth the humiliation. I have found brand new tools, furniture,
housewares, game systems, antiques, and the list goes on and on. We give most
of the new stuff away to people in need and then I restore things like wooden
furniture that may have minor damage, and sell it or give it away as gifts to
friends and family. It's my hobby. And I love it.
If I can point to one thing that
God has blessed me with from the age of my birth, it would be a desire to be
charitable. Amidst the volumes of undesirable characteristics in my personality,
and sinful aspects of my
life, charity has been one that has held steady. I
LOVE giving things away. It brings me joy and I believe it glorifies God and
fulfills the greatest commandment. I can point to one defining moment that
stuck in my brain from my childhood that planted the seed for this passion. One
conversation that was simple wisdom born out of poverty.
Robert Grate, my amazing
grandfather was the same way. He was always giving, always volunteering, always
sacrificing, out of his poverty. I noticed. Everyone did. I learned. Everyone
did.
One afternoon while I was helping
my father build a house in the dead of winter my grandfather and I hopped in
his 1983 Dodge Pickup truck to warm up. A brand new truck pulled in and a I
said, "wow! Amazing truck! One day I'll have one of those!" He said
"great!" "But just remember Jason, u-hauls don't follow
hearses". I was so impacted by the statement that I just sat there in
stunned silence.
What he meant was that at the end
of our lives, with everything we have accumulated, none of us, no matter how
much we have, are going to be able to take any of it with us. It will be chaff
in the wind...
Having nice things is not sinful.
Having nice things at the expense of charity and giving is.
Matthew 19-16-22
16 Just then a man came up to
Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what
is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter
life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not
murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give
false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor
as yourself.’[d]”
20 “All these I have kept,” the
young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want
to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this,
he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
So take inventory today. Look at
your life and figure out ways that you can pour your money and possessions and
time into gospel channels. You won't regret it, and your joy will increase.
It's a biblical promise.
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