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| "MONEY FOR MOWERS" |
| Some decisions can be very difficult, especially those involving money. Some things are necessities - like the car or our hot water heater. Some things we use but don't have to have. Air pump Nike's would be one example. Some things are neither but our mind plays tricks such as, "At 40% off the last clearance price which is really 78% off list, this is a really great deal even if I don't need it!" If we somehow clear these first hurdles of objectivity and need, there is still the question of wisdom. Does God want me to buy this or not? Does it really matter in this case? Is this a matter of stewardship? This brings me to the lawn mower question. In 1989 as a proud new townhouse owner, I bought a nearly brand new JC Penny lawn mower at a garage sale for $35. Two weeks later I found out that we had a townhouse association which paid for lawn care (oh well, that's not what were looking at today). I started it and then stored it for seven years. Having moved out to the Mat-Su Valley, we bought a house with a semi-cultivated lawn. The previous owned really let it go. It's mostly weeds now but when it's mowed really short it's hard to tell. This nearly new mower now had a carburetor problem and was getting harder to run. I saw a coupon for lawn mower tune up at sears and decided to take a chance. I dropped off the mower at the delivery door and then went in to the service counter. "Hello, I would like to use this coupon to tune up my mower" "We don't normally work on this brand." "Oh, I know. I talked to the shop technician in Anchorage and described my problem and he said it was probably a carburetor problem which this tune-up could fix." "What problem?" "Well, it won't start." "Sounds like you need it repaired, not tuned." "Well, it runs okay if the speed lever is just right and it's had a chance to warm up" "If you can't start it, how do you know it runs?" "Well, I have to take the air cleaner off and drop gas into the carburetor and keep pulling the rope but it starts eventually." "So it does run?" "Like a top.that is, if you have the throttle in just the right position." "Mr. Loomis, this is our price sheet for lawn mowers. Do you see the descriptions?" "Yes." "Would you read the first one?" "Problem - Lawn Mower won't start. Charge-$90." "Can you think of any reason why this wouldn't be the right choice?" "Well, it does run kind off and the man in the Anchorage shop felt the tune up would fix it." "Mr. Loomis, I can take your coupon and have the tune up done if you feel this is what you want." "You know, it's worth $60 to me to have it fixed but the clearance mowers are just $200. If they were a little bit cheaper I would just buy a new one." "I know, it can be a hard decision." "Say, what if the tech looks at it and decides a tune up won't fix if and it would need a new carburetor. If we decide it's not worth it to fix it would you just give it back or would there be a charge?" "There would be a estimate charge of $30." "Rats." Silence for thirty agonizing seconds. "Okay, I'll do it." "Mr. Loomis, you just need to sign this form." "What am I signing?" "It says you understand what you're doing." More silence. "Okay. I'll sign it." I hurried out of the Sears store. I found myself relieved not by the decision that I made but simply that the decision was over. In point of fact, three days later the tech called me and after discussing the problem, he convinced me that the carburetor would have to be replaced. We decided it wasn't worth it and that he would not even bother to open it up. He also graciously said there would be no charge since he wasn't going to touch it. Three days later, I paid my $200 and got a new mower. Managing God's resources is hard for me. It takes time and effort and I suppose a little trust. I pray God would help me be a better steward and give me the desire yield to Him in these areas. By David Loomis Copyright 2000 |
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