"but the ad said $11,995!"

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One of the few real joys in life is riding off the dealer’s lot on your new motorcycle.  You’ve read the articles, seen the ads, and saved your money.  You’ve convinced yourself and your wife, or your mother, that it is just what you need, and the day comes when you have the money, and the bike is for sale.  Excitedly you go down to the dealer, you’ve got your money, bought a used helmet, and you are ready to ride.  But you find that there is still sales tax, and you are about $80 short on your $1000 purchase.  The dealer sees the look of disappointment in your face, and tells you to hang on, and comes back a few minutes later telling you “congratulations, you just bought a motorcycle.  We’ll throw in the tax for you as a discount!”  And both new rider and dealer are happy, both benefit, and a long term relationship is formed.  He tells all his friends how the dealer helped him out, the dealer who rides himself has made some profit, and whenever he sees his customers in public they greet each other.  He is in the business to sell motorcycles, parts, accessories, and do service.  He doesn’t get rich, but performs a critical function in the biking community.  He treats others as he would like to be treated, and the riders in town are proud to wear his t-shirts.  He operates off a simple philosophy, when both parties benefit, it is a good deal.

That new rider could have been you or me, and selling motorcycles almost 40 years ago I was the dealer’s representative, the salesman.  And we sold Suzuki, BMW, and Triumph, Norton had passed away, no one wanted Rickman, and I sold many bikes like in the above scenario.  We all rode, the dealer made money, and we all felt we were being treated fairly.  I made a 2% commission on the total sale, $20 on $1000 sale, although many dirt bikes would only make you $15 dollars.  And I got to see many faces, really their backs as they left the dealership on their new bikes.  I was introduced as “this is the guy I bought my bike from,” to his friends, and I made many new friends like that.  But things have changed, as many mega-dealerships today, are run and operated by those who don’t ride, with F&I guys like a car dealership, and as we found out yesterday, many add on dollars for the dealer.  One bike we looked at, was advertised at $11,995, a good price, so we asked for an out the door price.  “$14,500.”  HUH?  We expected sales tax, after all it is California, and to put a license plate on it.  But $969 for freight, another $1440 for set-up?  Were we being set up?  And the answer is yes to the consumer, and too many new riders pay too much and are taken advantage of by the dealer. “But the ad said $11,995,” we cry, but the unfeeling salesman, trained to ignore such replies, only insists that is the price, “do you want it?”  And many times you want it too much and pay the price.  But you are getting ripped off, as most bikes only have about a $500 freight charge, which dealers can absorb, and come set up in the crate, just flash the computer, which takes 20 minutes with them working on something else.  Say $30 flat rate....any tech would like to PDI bikes getting paid for 18 hours for 20 minutes work.  The dealer charges it, making a nifty $1400 profit, and we all pay for it.  Somewhere along the line.  Yes I understand overhead, I have one too, but why can some stores sell at retail or below and still make a profit without the above, while some claim to just get by ripping off riders?  To the customer you feel ripped off, to the dealer they feel they could have charged more,  I guess it depends on what side of the desk you are sitting on, one is shrewd, the other is deceitful.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 

Try to put a dollar figure on God’s love, seems impossible but some do.  And with straight faces do it.  As a young Christian I was told that Christians are to prosper, it says so, the outer man prospers.  I liked that, and thought Jesus could be the way to riches and luxury.  But how would that explain the missionaries just getting by, and my Pastor who made just above minimum wage?  Were they doing something wrong, or was the Bible wrong?  Then the whole verse was explained, and it made sense, “as the soul prospers, so does the outer man.”    God changes us from within, and as we grow closer to him, the things of the world have less value.  He offers salvation free, no added on duties like some cults or religions demand.  He takes you as you are, no matter how broke, or how rich, and offers to change you.  But only with your OK, and oh how wonderful it is.  Jesus gives us the power to understand, and as we get deeper into his love, it never ends, we can pass it along to others.  The scriptures become real, Jesus lives in us, and we prosper.  We grow in grace, and if the outer man follows, that is an added benefit.  A promise fulfilled.  And when using the power to understand God gives, we can see when a deal is bad, when we are getting ripped off, and can avoid it.  Works with God, and it worked when buying motorcycles, relationships, families, finances, and careers.  Maybe Ecclesiastes says it better, “the rich man never has enough money, and stays awake nights worrying about it or counting it.”  Maybe a theme for a t-shirt, wear that one in next time you want to buy a new bike.  We behave differently when we see things through God’s eyes, he gives us the understanding, giving us wisdom to make the right choice.  And making Jesus the first choice is always the right choice.  “Seek first the kingdom of God, and the all things shall be added unto you.”  When Jesus gets the glory, you get the blessing.  How many Harvard MBA’s are taught that basic principal of business?  Now you know...feel richer?

And because you cannot take it with you, spend it ahead here.  Give while laughing, feed the hungry, cloth the naked.  Visit hospitals, and don’t forget those in jail.  Jesus never forgot you, for while still a sinner he died for you. God’s thoughts and ways are not ours, but when we adopt them, and adapt them, we see the glory of God shine through us.  Just by putting Jesus first...making a small sacrifice but not being me first.

What does it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul?  Death, for that is what the wages of sin are.  Jesus makes it clear, you can be born again and see heaven, even to your last breath like the thief on the cross.  Or you can die rich, and suffer in hell, like the rich man who stepped over Lazarus.  Our earthly ride will end someday...where will you end up?

Let all things be added unto you in Jesus.  The real joy in life.  Only he saves, all others just prolong the first and last payment.  The richest man is he who cannot hang onto that which he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.  Hang onto Jesus, more than a philosophy, he is life.  And life is for the living....enjoy the ride on your new bike.  And life.  Just don’t pay to much.  In Jesus you never will.

love with compassion,

Mike

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