Brand loyalty vs. performance. A tough call, and one when polled among sport bike owners a few years back gave some interesting results. Seems brand loyalty was the top choice among riders throughout the US of A, except for California, where for a few hundredths of a second, they would change brands. For instance, Yamaha YZR 6 runs a 10.123 second quarter mile, and Honda CBR 600RR runs a 10. 232 quarter, So Cal riders would pick the Yamaha over the Honda. Now I hate to burst any bubbles of preconceived notions, but most of you guys ain't gonna get performance from your bike like the mags do. For one thing, this is what they do, and have no respect for the bike loaned to them for testing. Factor in weather, humidity, temperature, lane choice, rider error, and differences in the same bike in a production run, and the margin of error is too great to not discount in judging performance. Add to that the fact that some magazines don't even track test their bikes anymore, just run them on a dyno for simulated 1/4 mile times, and your margin of error is far greater than you can imagine. But yet so many change each year, just for that few hundredths of a second in the article. And have to sell their bike, which just one magazine issue ago was the best in the world. At a loss, of course, based on one road test.
We all like winners, and somehow avoid losers. I find ministry works just the opposite. In good times, like when the boss says good job, your wife bought "that" dress, your kids get good grades, or you somehow have money left after paying all your bills last month-things are great. But throw in some domestic issues, maybe a root canal, or a stain on "that" dress, and the whole world changes. And so does your attitude. No one calls to brag how great things are, but just one little thing upset them....
Such was the problem that Mrs. Job faced. Married to the richest man in the world, she had riches, land, cattle, prestige, and all the things that go with it. You can bet she didn't need to wait in line for a table. Or to get her hair styled. And that "that" dress was custom made for her. And that her friends and even the public viewed her with admiration. But with one Bible verse, one quote, one emotional outburst, Bible historians, Christians, and the church-ok, throw in her friends, too, have shown her to the gate of destruction-a castaway due to one statement. "Curse God and die," she tells her husband. Who has just lost everything he had, except for her and his life. Reduced to scraping boils, he has nothing.
But somehow well meaning others forget so has she. Where is the same compassion they have for Job? Do you not feel for a mother who has lost her children? Whose husband is deathly ill? Whose only redeeming values are found in his friends, and what was his reputation?
Have any of us just wanted to die when circumstances weren't just right for us? Get real-there is a great deal of Mrs. Job in all of us. So, where is the compassion for her? Why do we castigate her for one statement, but yet when we err want all the mercy and sympathy we can get? Are we any different to God when a little turmoil comes into our lives? Is it the so-called perfection we hold ourselves to that we think makes Him want to show us off, like He did Job? Is it possible our reactions are more important than our actions? Do we really love our neighbor as our self as Jesus commands?
Just as many have been led to the destruction of Mrs. Job by one statement, you can be renewed, saved by another. John 3:16, for God so loved the world He gave His only son... And if you are going to bet your future on one statement, this one is preferable. Show the mercy to other Mrs. Jobs that Jesus showed to you. He took you just as you are, and loved you. His loyalty is based on the brand you are-HIS, not your day to day performance. And how you performed last year vs. this year doesn't keep Him from replacing you.
There are a lot of good one year old bikes for sale out there just for this reason. You have to be the best, or at least ride the best. Remember your old last year's model was once like that. And you may be too. Don't let your sin, or poor judgment replace that which is good in God's eyes with your ego. Show compassion to the Mrs. Jobs you encounter. And remember how the story ended. Twice as much as she started with, and even more children. And a testimony. So shall your mercies be. Poured out, overflowing.
The Jobs stayed together, even though Job questioned her "do we only serve God when it benefits us?" Do you? Be careful how you judge Mrs. J, you may have more in common with her than you know. And of course, we will love you despite that. So here's the deal. If you quit telling lies about her, we'll stop telling the truth about you!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com