Have you ever bought something that was not exactly what you thought it was? Maybe it looked better in the picture. Maybe it just did not do what it was supposed to do. Whatever the case, do you remember the feeling of disappointment and maybe even the feeling that you had been cheated?
Years ago I took a vehicle to a mechanic to get some work done. While I was there, I asked him to take a look at the door handle. A short time later, the door handle had the same problem again. I retuned to the mechanic to get it fixed again.
This time the mechanic took the same amount of money from me, and told me that next time it would be more than double what I had just paid. He also told me where to buy a tool to take the door apart and fix it myself.
A few days later, the door handle was not working again.
I did get the tool. I took the door apart myself. Guess what I found? The piece inside the door was bent.
I was NOT happy. I was paying him to fix the problem. If I had known he was just sticking the parts back together instead of fixing it, I wouldn’t have paid him to do the job the second time. In hindsight, he must have known he was not solving it. After all, he told me what it would cost to come back and how to fix it myself.
That was the last time I carried anything to him to fix.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians 3:9-10
As Christians, we need to pattern our lives after Christ. We need to deal honestly with one another. This extends to our business dealings as well.
A lie of omission is still a lie. He didn’t tell me that it wasn’t really fixed, and that it had a bent piece inside of it, and that it would require new parts. I was paying him yet a second time for the same work. And again, this work would not resolve the issue.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1
What if he had told me the truth? I would have told folks how wonderful his work was, and I would have carried him business for years. That same vehicle was destined for many repairs before we got rid of it.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Our challenge today is to be honest in all of our business dealings. Our customers expect it. They trust us. It is our responsibility to do the job correctly and to make it right when we err. Great customer service is one way to build that good name that is rather to be chosen than great riches.