7 possessions week: recap

I've got some catching up to do. After food week and clothing week, we took a little bit of time off of 7 to regroup and go on a cruise. A few weeks ago was possessions week, with the challenge being giving away seven items a day for a week. That's 49 items. This is still a work in progress for me. I started cleaning things out and then things got busy and I haven't finished. I was just going to wait until the end of the week and give everything away at once, but that week is long gone so once I finally get done I'll give everything away. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time for that during media week. 

This is a picture of the things I've gotten together to give away. (Except the exercise ball.) (Which I could totally give away because I never use it.) 

I don't know exactly how many items I have to give away, but I counted roughly and quit when I got to 50. So I think it's safe to say there are 60-70 items I already have. Clothes, bathing suits, shoes, dish towels, bath towels, bath cloths, picture frames. There's no telling how many I will add to the pile when I finally finish going through everything in my house. Not to mention, I just cleaned out my room at my parent's house and gave away tons of stuff. These are all things that I don't use and/or don't need anymore, so chances are, I won't even miss them or know they are gone. 

And that got me to thinking, how in the world do I have so much STUFF that I can give away (probably) close to 100 items and NOT EVEN MISS THEM?!?! Granted, not all of these were purchased by me; some of the things I am getting rid of were given to me, but I'm sure I spent plenty of money on the things in that pile that I bought. And now I'm just giving it away and won't even know it's gone! What the heck?! There are people starving because they don't have money for food, or homeless because they can't pay their rent, and here I am getting rid of all of these things (that I clearly don't need) that were bought with money that could have been used for things that actually matter! I'm pretty sure this is the exact opposite of what it means to be a good steward of your money. And by "your money" I mean "my money." 

I want to be a better steward of the things God has blessed me with, so my prayer is that I will stop throwing away money on THINGS that I will ultimately throw out and never miss, and will use that to meet needs that will bring Him glory.