Looking back, I am not sure how we managed to raise our family. It took
both our paychecks and then some, but somehow we made it. Looking back further,
I am really amazed at how my Dad raised a family on only his teacher’s paycheck,
but he did. And really looking back, how my Grandmother once told me of how a
$15 light bill went unpaid because my Grandfather didn’t make that much that
week. But somehow we manage, some through the grace of God, some using
Generics. You remember them, popular in the 70’s, instead of seeing the Jolly
Green Giant on the label, it was white with black letters, “CORN” or “PEAS.” A
generation ago we tried them, but found the price sometimes was still too high
for the lower quality. As kids we knew which mothers had the best snacks, and
sometimes would let a kid hang out with us because of the snack quality. Then
there was Kenny’s mom, who always, only bought things on sale, and mostly the
Shop Rite brand. Which answered a question nobody dared ask, how bad can you
make potato chips? Chocolate chip cookies? Ice milk instead of cream. Even
Kenny wore Shop Rite underwear....but we all did what we had to do.
So is it a good deal because it is cheaper? What deal is better, 10 cents
each or 2/25 cents? Your answer may surprise even you. My Dad used to fill up
his VW bug with Sunoco 190, the lowest grade available, aka the cheapest. He
must have gone into shock when he had to put premium at 10 cents a gallon more
in his new BMW. And spend a dollar more per fill up. When we moved west in
1987, we needed a second car badly, so bought a 1987 Ford Escort, the get you in
to buy another one deal, and bought the stripped one advertised. No AC, open
the windows, a plate where the radio should be, and plastic mats on the floor.
But it did the job, and did it cheaply. Remember a friend telling you he drove
a Vette, and you thought Corvette, not his Chevette? Big difference....
Maybe it is the way we order, a friend one time ordered a pizza with
pepperoni, sausage, extra cheese, onions, and peppers. I ordered the same
thing, a Super Deluxe, without extra cheese for $3 less. Same pizza, just not
ala cart. In college we knew just where the best burger deal was, and how 2
cheeseburgers were cheaper and more filling than one Big Mac. Same with fries,
2 small fires cheaper and bigger than one large. Maybe being poor pushed us
into an economic situation where we had to think, while others just thought we
were broke or cheap. Well, they were half right. But today I still read
labels, signs, and look out for Generics. And with all the money I have saved
from my 10 cents each purchases, can afford premium in my bikes. But still use
only regular, for that is all that they need.
It still seems today that everyone is out to get your dollar. Read the
ads, I mean really look at the prices, you might be surprised. A store manager
once told me when I sold him Coca Cola, he could advertise 99 cent six packs
that cost him $1.35 and make money. Once they were in the store, the regular
prices stayed the same, they bought based on the price of Coke. His question to
me, “what would get you in, 99 cent six packs, or 7% off storewide?” He laughed
all the way to the bank. So read the ads....beware minimum purchases, and ask
your kids who has the best snacks. You may find out more about a person’s
income, buying habits, and where the best buys are by listening. Or maybe being
invited over for dinner...what part of chicken parts don’t you understand?
Today in the age of declining church attendance, I get ads about programs,
processes, procedures, and feel prodded into going. Marketing plans today put
in place, as some have grown very large and impersonal, while others struggle to
make ends meet. On a church visit once to fellowship’s new building, at the end
of the service, the pastor addressed the assembled flock, and berated them, they
had fallen short their first month on their pledges, and the mortgage was due.
Such faith...and they eventually lost the building, they lost most of us a lot
sooner. Jesus has much to say about the poor, poor in spirit, poor in wallet,
and poor in mind. As schools toady go to online classes to save money, so are
churches. Building costs are excessive, and we need to look better than the
church down the street. At one time looking for the lost to save and minister
to, now they compete for your dollar also, as they don’t have the faith in God
they tell you to have. They are selling out at wholesale, neglecting that
scripture tells us “unless God builds the church we labor in vain.” Us, the
church, from saving to meeting our needs, it is all about Jesus. Yet although
Jesus reminds us the poor will always be with us, even if he isn’t after his
crucifixion, but remember the resurrection, the church asks the poorest to still
contribute, “we cannot make it without your faithfulness.” When they should be
dealing direct with God. The first century church got this, and when a need
arose, the body provided it. No special offering, no envelopes, pledges, or
begging from the pulpit, they went to the Lord in prayer and he provided. From
the woman with two mites to Ananias and Sapphira, God meets the needs. Not us.
So why do you ask those who don’t have to provide when you have a rich God who
can and does? Are you settling for a Generic religion when you can have it all
in Jesus? Why do you give, or do you give to get?
Ananias and Sapphira were saved, part of the church. And givers, but just
like the man who stands in church and gives $1000 anonymously. They wanted the
recognition, so God gave it to them, not quite what they expected, taking them
to heaven sooner than they wanted without their glory, God’s, and recorded
forever in scripture for a lesson for all of us. Does your church’s legacy
reflect A&S? Does yours? Are you feeding God Generics so you can eat the
good stuff? Is what in the Bible more important than what gets you into the
church? Are you wallet or spirit driven? Is it possible you may be poor and
not know it? Maybe this last example will help....
We were coming back from Canada, and stopping in Reno for the night. The
sign at Circus Circus said “ROOMS $19!” Sounds like us, so we parked went in,
and found the line out the door for $19 rooms. There must have been 200 people
ahead of us when a girl stood up on the counter and announced, “we have no more
$19 rooms,” and the place emptied in a stampede. With us and only a few others
left standing. Suddenly we were first in line, when she said “but we do have
suites for $29!” And how sweet it was! Hot tub in the room, top floor with
corner windows, maybe the best $29 I ever spent on a room. The lesson here, of
many learned, was God has something better for you than religion. Don’t settle
for just any church, or just any God. Jesus paid the price to enter the kingdom
of heaven, where the rooms are all in mansions, no lines, and they are prepaid.
No credit card needed to get in. No ID, he knows your name. And one is waiting
for you right now. Why settle for a program or process, when you can have it
all? Is your walk just a bunch of trendy church talk, has your whole Christian
experience been about church activities? They aren’t necessarily bad, but
unless driven by the spirit, you settle for less, a lot less. Jesus never asked
for or took a collection, he told us to give from the heart, hilariously. If
you don’t you miss the blessing. God doesn’t need your money, you may be
surprised that the church shouldn’t either if they trust they same God they tell
you to. Hmmmm....
And about those poor among you, they are the ones who inherit the kingdom
of God. Salvation is not negotiable, and is never on sale, even on Easter and
Christmas. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. The widow stood out because
she was poor, her giving made her stand out to show how rich she really was.
Kenny’s mom shopped at Shop Rite, the price reflected the quality. Us kids knew
better. What kid would ever eat a generic Oreo? Still interested in a $19
room?
love with compassion,
MIke
matthew25biker.blogspot.com