These days, it seems that money is on most people's minds. With the huge success of eBay, many have been encouraged by the potential for buying and selling at a profit, or better still, sell things that they got for free, so that everything they make is pure profit.
Every Christmas, lots of gifts change hands twice. First, free from the giver to the recipient, and second, from the recipient to a willing buyer. The Spirit of giving has given way to the spirit of enterprise. It seems that some could not care less about why they were given the gifts in the first place.
Our Cyberfellowship reporter decides to interview one such enterprising gift-seller to understand more about this strange phenomenon.
CF: Hi, Ms Teck Ann Sell, I understand that you are selling a dozen boxes of exotic chocolates, a nice cutlery set, a portable radio, and a beautiful set of handwoven scarves. Tell us, where did you buy these items from?
TAS: Oh these? I did not buy them. I got them as Christmas presents.
CF: Why are you selling them?
TAS: Why? Oh, come on, get real. In this new economy, everything is part of the economy. Whatever comes our way, we send away at a profit. Neat huh? Anyway, my school taught me to be enterprising.
CF: Didn't you learn in school that gifts are for keeping?
TAS: Excuse me, where were you living all this while? On Patmos or Galapagos Island? Yes, I learned that presents are for keeping but that was in Kindergarten. From Primary One onwards, I learned that presents are for selling.
Besides, look at these boxes of chocolates. My BMI (body-mass index) is a perfect 19, you want me to become a 91? And the scarves. Who wears scarves in Singapore? Radio, oh it's so 60's. Give me the latest MP3 player, maybe I will consider keeping.
CF: Ok, so it is the giver's fault, huh? Then let's tell the givers so that they don't need to give next year?
TAS: Shh, not so loud. You are not publishing this, huh? Don't tell anyone. Let them continue to give, so that I can continue to sell lah, you bodoh.
CF: Oic. Have you considered giving them away instead, Ms Teck Ann Sell?
TAS: Giving them away? Are you dingdong? I am not a charitable organization, ok? Trying to make me feel guilty, Mr Righteous Man? Want me to knock some sense into your head with this useless 2006 diary that I got from my insurance agent? Oh wait, maybe I should sell that as well.
CF: maybe your soul too.
TAS: WHAT? I heard THAT! You abcdefg!
CF: Uh, as this interview has unexpectedly taken a turn for fanciful name-calling and uncontrollable rage, we have to cut short and return to our article.
On a serious note, gifts are for keeping. They are an expression of goodwill and love on the part of the giver. God is the original giver and still is. He gave us all the beautiful things in this world to enjoy, and the life to enjoy what He's given to us.
Psalms 24:1 says "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it"
If only we can learn to see that what we have comes from God, then we won't be in a hurry to sell anything, but use whatever God has given us to bless others. We are mere stewards, living on leased quarters.
Let's be thankful for what we have, and for a change, look at how we can bless others instead of enriching ourselves further with what we receive freely. Then "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7
God bless,
Thomas
Category: cf_tht, sounding board
2 comments:
haha! enjoyed reading it!
Thanks Emay! Glad to know that :) If you have something to share, just drop me a note. Or if you just like to read, then come back for more. Cyberfellowship is updated everyday:)
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