Used Cars Salesman
Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of purchasing a used car? It’s never fun to go to the car lot and be pestered by an overzealous used car salesman with an outdated sport coat. They tell you how great the vehicle is, then you take it for a test drive and finish with some high pressure sales pitch.
However, what if the experience was a little different. Let’s say you showed up to the dealership and the salesman told you about the car. He told you how great the car was, all the features that were available in the car and then asked you to purchase the vehicle. However, you ask to test drive the vehicle. Yet, this salesman say you can just take their word for it. They are telling you the vehicle is in pristine working condition, so no need to drive it. Would you purchase the vehicle? I would think most of us would say no.
Let’s say you are planning to retire someday. You go to the investment branch of your bank and ask about investing. You meet with the investor, and they tell you just to give them your money and they will invest it for you. You figure they are the “expert” and know what their doing, so you start giving money over to the investor. When your friends ask you about your retirement savings, you just say “I have a money guy, he is taking care of that for me.” Would you sign up for this type of investing? Again, I would think most would say no.
Now, we jump ahead a few decades and it’s time to retire. You go to your investment bank only to find out they were investing in polaroid. You are not going to retire with the money you thought you would have. Rather, those vacations, beach house and relaxation you worked your entire life for are a mere figment of your imagine.
In the two scenarios we have just wrote about, we wonder who would be so foolish to do those things. Who would purchase a used vehicle without first taking it for a test drive. Then, who would invest hard earned money into something they didn’t research? However, many do something similar, yet with more serious consequences.
Let’s take the used car. The salesman doesn’t want you to test drive it. Maybe he says it’s so nice, so many features, that you wouldn’t know how to use them. Seems odd, right? However, many Churches today don’t encourage people to read the Bible. Growing up in a certain religion, it was frowned upon to look at the Bible. For it was only the ministry who could understand this. Why wouldn’t someone research for themselves to ensure what they are being told is the truth? Why wouldn’t someone test drive a vehicle before they purchase?
The second scenario was about investing. They had an investment manager. This was the expert, so why look at where the money going. They left it up to their money guy. However, in the end they found out they were bankrupt. Even today, many do the very same thing with eternity. They have a “Spiritual guy” who takes care of eternity for them. They feel the spiritual guy is the expert, so I’m not even looking into it. Well, you don’t have to be an investment expert to know you shouldn’t invest in polaroid, hence, you don’t have to be a Biblical scholar, to understand how to be ready for eternity. Why wouldn’t someone investigate the investments they are being sold? Why wouldn’t someone look at the Bible to what they are being told?
What are we doing to ensure we don’t buy a lemon or invest wrong in eternity? Are we taking our teachings for a test drive? Are we verifying the investments of our faith are good?
II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
