“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act…. – Matthew 7:15-16
Well, here we go again! This time it’s the plumbing.
I’m sure we all remember the classic Sir James Dyson vacuum cleaner commercial from 2004. “I just think things should work properly.” It became a meme because what Dyson said is so completely true. If you spend money on something, then at a minimum “things should work properly.”
More so when you spend, well, literally a boatload of money on a house. But even brand new pipes and fittings will not “work properly” when the original installation includes cutting corners, shoddy work, misleading the customer and failing to meet code.
So there’s a problem with the shower and I call a reputable plumber, who goes under the house to investigate. What he finds is poor workmanship, code violations, incorrect piping, faulty installations and more. Pretty much everything needs to be replaced because it was not done right in the first place. Good grief!
Years ago there was this HGTV series called “Holmes on Homes.” Every show was built around his catchphrase “making things right.” This would have been a great episode.
There is a principle at play that makes me think of my dad. Dad was never extravagant, but he would wait until he could afford quality and he made sure things were done right the first time. Quality was the watchword. Never throw your money away on second best.
My dad’s reasoning was sound. Because it is always much more costly – by a long shot – to fix something that should have been done right in the first place.
Devotional tie-in:
In case you are wondering, there is a huge devotional tie-in! People come up short all the time and it’s not just plumbing and ductwork! So many hungry souls cut corners and settle for second-rate when it comes to finding meaning and purpose in life too. They balk at the idea of going all-in with Jesus but then try to fill the void with cheap and flawed substitutes.
But cheap and flawed will never do. Jesus is not “an” answer, Jesus is “the” answer. Accepting the invitation to reconcile with God is not one option among many, it is the only sure way home.
This is what the New Testament writer calls, “The life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19). And it is worth the investment.
I have learned to cut through the false and settle on what is worthwhile. The wise man builds his house upon the rock. – DEREK
Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24-25