My friend Ted loved Wendy’s hamburgers, and where he lived there was no
Wendy’s. Now Ted was used to getting his way, and being one of the richest men
in the area, he and his family developed supermarkets and then sold them to a
German company, he didn’t hear no very often when he asked. But being the rich
guy in a small town made him prey for people with great money making ideas, to
which he would always answer “ I don’t know anything about that subject, so I
won’t invest,” leaving many to find another pigeon for their wild ideas. When
we went to lunch, he had to duck all these good ideas to make him rich, and he
would tell them “I’m already rich,” and very few lunches were just the two of
us. So when he wanted his Wendy’s store, he called Wendy’s, identified himself,
which didn’t matter to them, and asked what he had to do. He had money, and was
ready. He could already taste the double cheeseburger, but was told they weren’t
interested in his cash, what was his credit like? “No problem,” he told them,
his family owned the bank. Which didn’t impress them either, and his years of
paying cash for all his grocery store bills worked against him. Confused, and
not amused, he couldn’t understand why when he had millions in the bank, that
Wendy’s was more interested he had an $80,000 line of credit. And lost
interest, he hadn’t gotten his way, and if they weren’t interested in his cash,
he wasn’t interested in them either, and never ate at Wendy’s again.
We ran into a similar situation when we moved to California and wanted to
buy a house. We had bought houses in two other states, and had worked hard to
pay off all our bills, credit cards zero balance, we owned our cars and
motorcycle, and could finally afford the monthly payments-easily. So with
confidence we applied, figuring no problem, for we knew others who were
struggling and had gotten loans, only to be turned down. Because we owed no
one, our FICO score reflected it, but not in our favor. They wanted you to have
open loans, to be in debt, so you would have a payment every month, and all our
hard work meant nothing, as we were told to go buy a car on credit, and reapply
in a few months, our score would be higher. Maybe it is true, California is the
land of fruits and nuts, and your past doesn’t matter, only what you owe today.
The payoff being don’t pay anything off!
Years ago Jean Shepard wrote “In God we trust, all others pay cash,” and it
evolved into “A Christmas Story,” about Ralphie wanting his Red Rider gun for
Christmas. And we laugh about paying cash, but now live in a world who rather
have you in debt to them, rather than take your cash. And because of money
laundering, anything you buy over $10,000 must have an IRS form to go with it.
Carrying cash has become a burden, FICO rules, and like they ask, “what’s in
your wallet?” better not be cash. Much different from what Jesus advises on
money. “Owe no man nothing,” he advises, and it feels good not being in debt,
but puts you at risk to buy anything. Consider Jesus, wanting to buy a car. He
has no FICO score, he has no home. No car, as he walked everywhere, and even
had to borrow a colt to ride into Jerusalem. He had to stay with friends, and
never carried cash. But when He needed a coin to show a man about taxes, all He
had to do was grab a fish in the sea, and out came a coin. And He even sent out
His disciples with no cash, telling them He would provide for them as needed,
and if anyone refused them, kick the dust off your feet, and go on. I know some
banks I would love to kick my dirty feet in, and kick some other things as
well. So what does Jesus know that your banker doesn’t?
So would you give Jesus credit? Maybe a better question is why don’t you
give Him credit, believing the things He says, but not obeying them? If sick,
who is a better physician? Who is a better money manager? Who knows the future
100%? Who is there when we always there when we need Him, and never leaves us
or forsakes us. Who is able to give good advice, which only works when taken.
Who has fulfilled over 300 prophecies about Himself, and yet we don’t give Him
enough credit. Would a high FICO score give Him more credibility? So then why
do we rush to ask others, and seek opinions when He gives us truth? What will
it take to extend all the credit due to Jesus that He deserves?
Don’t let a hamburger get between you and the one who deserves all the
credit. In God we trust, all others pay cash.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com