Have you ever heard of the “Shopping Cart Theory?” This Theory basically states that you can determine if someone is or isn’t a “good person” based on whether or not they return their shopping cart. The theory suggests that the action of returning a shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test of morality because it is an easy convenient task that everyone recognizes as “the right thing to do” yet it comes with no consequences or rewards. Basically, you gain nothing by returning the cart and you lose nothing if you don’t. Whether or not you subscribe to this theory probably correlates to whether or not you return your cart to the proper place but, we can discuss that at another time.

If you’re like me, when you hear a theory like this your first thought is probably, “I ALWAYS return my cart!” Shortly after this thought completes, the back of my mind screams out, “I OBJECT!” and begins to present you with a mental slide show of all the times you failed this simple test since birth. I know, I know, there was the one time¹ where I just shoved it up onto one of the flower beds. Then there was the time that several other carts were stacked in a random parking spot and I added mine to those². Then there were the times in my younger days where all bets were off. Did I intentionally do damage to people’s property? No. But did I smash at least one shopping cart playing shopping cart joust in an empty parking lot? Maybe³. But it was only one time! Let’s just move on and understand that I have not always been perfect at this. However, these days, I am a shopping cart returner and true believer in “Shopping Cart Theory.” Further, I believe the same theory can be applied to shopping baskets. If you leave them on the floor by the register, you’re the worst!

A few months ago, I had an opportunity to prove just how committed I am to this theory. I was shopping in my local Wal-Mart for a few small items and opted to use the basket. After checking out I attempted to return my basket to the rack by the registers. To my surprise, the rack had apparently been relocated. I continued beyond the registers toward the exit expecting to find the missing rack by the door but again, nothing. As my confusion level continued to rise I considered simply leaving the basket on the ground near the door and casually walking away.

Despite my best efforts, my fingers simply would not release the handle. Finally, I saw it, the original rack where I got the basket in the first place. So, I walked all the way back toward the main entrance of the store, returned my basket, and walked out of the store with my head held high knowing that I had proven once and for all that I was not only a good person, but in my humble opinion, probably one of the best. I mean, it took effort for me to return that basket and I deserve to be recognized!

I hope you sense at least some sarcasm up to this point because here is the actual truth: Returning your shopping cart does not make you a good person. Further, there really isn’t such a thing as a good person. Scripture reminds us that, “No one is good—except God alone” (Lk. 18:19, NIV). We’ve all sinned. We’ve all messed up. We’ve all fallen short of God’s standard.

When faced with this truth, many try to make up for these mistakes thinking that if my “good” just outweighs my “bad” then I’ll be “good.” But, scripture also reminds us that even our best works, the times when we go WAY out of our way to return that shopping cart⁴, just don’t measure up to God’s standard of holiness. The prophet Isaiah tells us that, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Is. 64:6, NIV).

“So, here’s the bad news: No matter how many times we return the shopping cart, we still won’t be “good.” Fortunately, there is also good news. This good news is that despite all of this, God still loves us and made a way for us to be made righteous. He sent His Son as a sacrifice in our place, to bear the weight of our sin, and to allow us to be made holy through him. Paul explains it this way in his letter to the Ephesians:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:1-9, NIV)

So, while the “Shopping Cart Theory” may provide an amusing perspective on morality, it ultimately falls woefully short in defining the goodness of a person. Returning a shopping cart, or any other “good work” that we may do, just doesn’t make a person inherently good. In the same way, attempting to balance our “good” deeds against our bad ones won’t lead to righteousness. Even still, God’s love for us remains unwavering; He provided a way for us to be made righteous through His Son’s sacrifice. This act of grace allows us to be reconciled with God, not by our works, but by faith. It is His grace that saves us, and that grace is a free gift given through relationship with Jesus, not something we can earn.

So, the next time you return your shopping cart, let me encourage you to remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s redeeming grace. Because of this, we should recognize our own shortcomings and develop a regular posture of humility and gratitude. Humbly acknowledge that we are not perfect and express gratitude for God’s grace. Allow this humility to help foster empathy, understanding, and compassion for others. Then, in the same way, give grace to others⁵. Instead of judging people based on simple actions, remember that we all have our imperfections. Rather than focusing on things like shopping carts, lets simply show love and understanding to everyone we meet in the same way Jesus shows love to us.

¹ Many times.

² Again, many times.

³ Definitely, but that one was actually only one time.

⁴ Even the time I had to return a cart to the inside of the store because it was apparently the coldest day in recorded history and the employees weren’t allowed to be outside.

⁵ My friend Steven and I had an amazing conversation about this on the “This Awesome Life” Podcast. Check it out here.