Why I Gave Away A $400.00 Watch
Posted: January 9th, 2010 | Author: Calvin | Filed under: Faith, Personal Development | 2 Comments »I always grew up in love with watches. Not the flossy, huge diamonds, very flash kind but the very corporate, very sophisticated, grown watches. My father always had very nice wrist wear so I took that on. After I started my business and began to experience a little bit of success, one of the first things that I did was buy my first “expensive” (to me) watch.
I loved that watch. I wore it all the time, actually too much as defined by a good stylish friend of mine. Back to the story…
This watch wasn’t just a piece of metal that helped me tell the time but it was a sign to myself and my sign to others (I had self image problems back then, lol) that I was making it.
When I went through a hard time and business started to go down, I got behind in my bills and had to make some very tough life decisions, at least I looked like I was still making it and my watched helped me achieve that.
However, an opportunity arose when I could give the watch away to bless someone else. I had about a 3-5 minute window to make my decision, was I going to obey the prompting I felt within or hold on to my last symbol of (false) prosperity. The battle waged on as I thought about the advantages and disadvantages of the, but a few thoughts overrode my selfish thinking…
- It is better to give than to receive.
- After giving, you can always to expect to receive a blessing somewhere in your life, it is like sowing and reaping crops in a field.
- Is my self worth defined by what I have or who I am?
So, I did it. I gave the watch. I can remember looking at my wrist feeling so naked and not just because I took off my watch but because that was my only business watch. I had a Timex (that I loved) and a Fossil watch (given to me as a present) but the Bulova was my baby. Days, turned to weeks, and now months, I still don’t have a business watch but I will tell you this.
When I gave that watch, it was probably one of the best things I could have done. It was the last piece of a false identity, the last chain that was holding me back forcing myself into the American Dream box. As time has passed, I have realized that my self worth was far greater than any object, but I would never have been able to make that realization as long as I held on to objects.
I see why Jesus told the Rich Young Man to give all he had, not so Jesus could collect it but so the young man could separate his self worth from his net worth. How can I expect to give away cars, houses, and millions of dollars later in life, if I can’t start now? Well, I passed that test and I know I can.
C.
PS. I have no problem with nice watches and nice things because as soon as deemed appropriate, look at my wrist, my suit, my car, and my house! 
Calvin, I believe what you stated to be the truth. This is what I perceive as a changing point in anyone’s life. The moment of “enlightenment”. Congratulations. We often times find ourselves lost in us and not FOUND in our purpose(s).
Awesome post Calvin! I believe that God will test us in the areas of giving especially before He releases what HE has in store for us. Its like if you were disobedient and held on to a $400 watch, can you be trusted with $400k? HE wants us to know that our self worth is in Him. There is nothing wrong with ‘stuff’ but when stuff defines us, we really have no real worth. Jesus took on the image of a servant, yet had ALL power; He was the fullness of God in the earth! That to me is awesome. Like you, I know that the money, houses, cars, clothes, etc. will manifest soon because I am not focused on the money. It has to come with all that I must do for God’s people. Its about the Kingdom, no matter what….