I first met Ron when he and his family moved here from Pasadena. He was a
very successful insurance agent making six figures when that meant something.
His family lived like it but Ron was becoming bored, and his family wanted
more. As in income, as in money. So he sold his profitable business, and
bought a quickie oil lube franchise, using all his cash to get started. Based
on the franchise promises, he would be rich again soon, but one thing stood in
his way. Ron knew nothing about cars or their repairs. Within a year most of
his finances were gone, he was behind to his vendors and mortgage on the shop,
and ended up losing everything. Including his wife, who had some strange
religious beliefs. She had been healed by a famous evangelist, and followed him
religiously, and he had become her knew savior, and with Ron losing everything,
she left him too, but didn’t divorce him, hanging on so he would have to support
her and his son, who she had turned against him. The last time I saw him was
when I helped him moved his few suitcases of belongings into his room he rented
in a house. After renting here a huge house in the custom she was used to. He
should have seen it coming, but his boredom with success and her greed fueled by
bad religion led him to ruin. Help me Ron! Duh?
I must admit I hadn’t thought of him for years, but while waiting inline
for lunch last week, and watching a franchisee folding under pressure, it all
came back to me. This guy was trying to prepare the orders, the girl had
walked out in while serving them, and they were out of meat, salsa, beans, and
Coke Zero, every time he called back to the kitchen for help, the answer was
“five minutes.” The guy in front of me started to get upset with the situation,
but as the more we watched the futility, we became sorry for him. Just looking
at him you could tell he had been successful once, but probably not with
people. I would label him CPA material, who looking at the potential jumped on
it. Never knowing to be profitable fast food must be fast, and restaurant
owners work long hours with low pay. Bet they didn’t mention that at the
franchise meeting. And I thought of Ron, and how many like Ron had sunk
everything into a business that would leave them empty and vacant, and losing
everything. Even Subway will confess it takes two stores to make a living...and
the dream becomes a nightmare and goes on.
Sara and Abram both had different views of the promise God provided. Abram
trusted God, while Sara took the promise and thought she had to do it herself.
So many Christians get led astray like this, thinking it is something they have
to do to please god, to make him love them more, to make them successful. To
carry out the dream or vision he had given them, only to end up in defeat. An
emptiness sets in as they flounder, and soon more meetings, more processes,
procedures, and programs are added, with interest at first, but then they begin
to dwindle. Studying God’s word, but forgetting his words, “unless he builds
the church, they labor in vain.” Hanging on to the false words of going out
witnessing, they fail to be a witness, and soon their actions differ very little
from an atheist. As the ones who they try to witness to avoid them, you hear
“why should I become a Christian, they act no different.” With too much truth
there to overcome. If only we listen to what Jesus had for us, and let his
spirit guide us. But we are more Sara than Abram many times, and pay the
price.
Sara wanted to fulfill God’s promise of the countless people God promised,
so told Abram to have her maiden Hagar, who gave him a son, thinking he was the
one God promised. Only to give birth to Ishmael, who would fight with his
brother Isaac, the one God had promised. Ishmael becoming the Arab people,
Isaac the lineage to the Jews. One promise, but one direction, self directed,
not spirit driven, and look at the results even today. Two brothers who
couldn’t get along as kids, leading to two races who cannot get along today.
One race bearing fruit, chosen as promised, the other a bastard, not as
promised, but as Sara chose. We read these things shall follow them that
believe, maybe the first words sent by telegraph apply, “what has God wrought?”
Instead of what has man wrought? Sara never set out to fail, but by trusting
God, not following her husband’s faith, it led her to ruin. Selfishness instead
of selflessness. Abram was found righteous not because of who he was, but
because God’s righteousness, and his trusting him. As he would prove again and
again, even a trip where God asked for his son Isaac.
We call ourselves Christians, but do we trust Christ? Do we act like
Jesus? Do we trust in him, or by some religious experiences claim his name?
When we come to realize it is not who we are, but what he has done, and who he
is and not what we have to do, we grow in his love and mercy. Grace grows from
the relationship, God shows mercy when we fail, we walk in his grace when we
obey. One is our way, the other his.
When Ron had spent his money on his franchise, then it was up to him.
Unexplored territory, and with no guide he was lost and lost everything. We
have come a long way from when a good mechanic would open his own shop, or a
good cook would open her own restaurant. Today you pay for the franchise, and
they will teach you how to fix cars or cook meals. Jersey Mike’s are
everywhere, did you know they are owned by a guy named Pete? Who gets a cut
from each sandwich you buy? Buying all your supplies and meats from him, to
provide a consistent quality, but also feeding his piggy bank. Whoever sells
the franchise owns the franchisee. Who ever we give our actions to owns us.
You cannot serve both God and man. Many have lost it all via franchises, sadly
too many have lost it all via religion. From which Jesus came to save us. So
you can say “help me Ron!” And hear a “duh.” Or follow Jesus, and find his
promise fulfilled. It isn’t always all about money, but when we follow the
money to where it leads, we see where our hearts really trust. After coming to
Christ, the rest is up to him, just like when we were saved. We save no one,
and only Jesus saves. Jesus paid it all, so let him do it all. Alive in the
spirit, a vitality that only comes from God. You will hunger again after
eating, and your car will always need service. Franchises bought on a single
promise. Are you willing to risk your future on a franchised hope or the
blessed hope? Who we depend on will show. Too many have strayed from the faith
when they should have kept their day job. Jesus never fails. Sara proved it
for all to see, “no, you can’t have it your way.” But you can be in the
way.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com