Last week I discovered that my church’s rubbish vendor was taking us to the cleaners. In the last four years, their price for garbage removal increased from $65 a month to over $170. I found another company that provides the same service for $55 a month. The decision to switch waste removal providers was a no-brainer. Or so I thought.
I called the overpriced trash hauler to discuss cancelling their service. They told me that we had a three-year contract with them signed in August 2011. That contract had automatically renewed after three years so it was now in force until 2017. If we scrapped their service before then, they would charge us a fee of over $650 simply to stop their overpriced service!
On the other hand, they said if we signed another contract, they would reduce our monthly hauling fees back to what it was four years ago.
This kind of business philosophy is utter rubbish. It feels like they hold us hostage with threats of penalties instead of wooing us by good customer service. Their offer to reduce our rates rubbed salt in the wound: why the heck had they more than doubled our fees in less than four years if they could profitably serve us at the old rates? Their proposals littered my inbox.
I was in the mood to do some serious trash talking.
What to do?
I was unhappy with their customer service (aren’t you?) and I immediately put on my old business hat. What options did we have? I thought of at least these four:
- Call back and try to talk some sense into them again, but I didn’t want to hassle the poor customer service rep who was just implementing an unpopular policy made by others.
- Renew the contract at their reduced rate . . . but I really don’t want to do business with a company that creates such junky policies.
- Cancel the service and pay their nonsense-fees. We would break even in a few months and then start saving over $115 a month.
- Or cancel the contract and fight the cancellation fees.
I was in my element, back in the business world, analyzing spreadsheets, listing options, making plans, and planning negotiation strategies.
Then God intervened
I didn’t spend much time on this issue, but: all the time I spent on it was in my own strength (along with a few other members whose advice I sought). It wasn’t a huge burden, and it tickled my fancy to work it out, so I simply acted completely on my natural instincts.
Which is another way of saying, I completely ignored God.
But God didn’t ignore me. Last Sunday morning I read the following,
Even the weakest saint can experience the power of the deity of the Son of God, when he is willing to “let go.” But any effort to “hang on” to the least bit of our own power will only diminish the life of Jesus in us.
We have to keep letting go, and slowly, but surely, the great full life of God will invade us, penetrating every part (My Utmost for His Highest, April 12).
You see, the “effort” of battling this issue on my own was small—I was “hanging on” to just a bit of my business experience—but I was still relying on that “least bit of [my] own power.” I may have learned how to let go of big things (I think of God more often in a crisis), but I certainly have not learned to let go of anything that deals with the least bit of my power.
And that means I am diminishing the life of Jesus in me.
Who do we want people to see?
I don’t know which rubbish solution is best and which solution is rubbish, but the “hanging on” process I chose would have the effect of people noticing my strengths. The might see:
- Sam the Negotiator;
- Sam the Analyzer;
- Or Sam the Fighter.
I felt ready for this fight because my years of business taught me negotiation, analyzing, and brawling. But who do I want people to see, me or God? Is my goal in the Christian life to build even more self-acclaim? Oswald Chambers concludes his devotional with:
[When we finally learn to let go] Jesus will have complete and effective dominion in us, and people will take notice that we have been with Him.
That is what the deepest part of me wants: I want people to see the God who is in me; that his presence has changed me; that I no longer carry burdens (even small ones) on my own; that even the smallest of my plans have been changed by the inner presence of God.
Which vendor will we choose? I still don’t know. I still haven’t figured out how to let go of everything. But I know this: whatever acumen I use today will be forgotten in a year, not to mention in eternity.
The only thing that will last is the Christ-dominated heart God is forging inside me.
There’s still a little inner-rubbish I have to take out to the curb, the garbage of my self-identity. That’s okay. Tomorrow is trash day, no matter what it costs.
Sam
Why Mary Magdalene?
There you go again Sam, totally describing my life! Why don’t you just leave that up to God to speak through somebody to … oh, OK, I get it. 🙂
I have experienced the sense of hanging on to things I should really let God be in charge of, and I have also experienced the feeling of letting my concerns for things subside as I give the concern for them to God. Unfortunately, I have much more experience with the former than the latter.
I think for me this all centers around Eph 6:18 where it says to “… pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” I think “all kinds of prayers” sort of covers every situation. I often times faintly hear God saying to me, “Hey, what about me?”
It seems to me, there are four levels of trust in God: 1) total distrust in God; 2) not needing to trust God; 3) inviting God to sort of “go with me” as I do something; and 4) total trust in God for management and guidance. I don’t think I ever distrust God, but I spend a lot of time in category 2, some time in category 3, and very little time in category 4.
I gotta go give something to God. Talk to you later.
Hi Lou,
I find it so interesting how God speaks to us, even when we aren’t looking for it.
When I read that comment by Oswald Chambers, it hit me immediately as God’s voice for me. I think God is doing this more than we recognize.
And, like you, I spend more time in your levels 2 and 3 than I ever do in level 4. But I think God’s changing me from the inside out.
Sam
no brainer, saving your pew fillers donations to go to a better cause would be gods answer
No brainer indeed!
I realize that the point of the article is let go and let God but practically…..Ask for a copy of the contract you signed. Often they have never been signed or they cannot find a copy. It is a underhanded negotiation tactic. If they do not have a copy of the contract you are off the hook for sure. I would definitely not sign another one of their contracts.
Hi Ryan,
Yeah, they sent me a copy of the contract right away. It was clearly written by them and for them.
Interesting, it was silent on price escalation. And they took full advantage of that silence.
I agree to disagree! I believe we need to stand up against greedy practices. I believe the more people (Christian or not) that have the courage to do that, the more we can help others who are being duped. Paul even stood up for himself in court. God gives us wisdom, He doesn’t pull us by puppet strings. I believe we are allowed to stand up to the bullies. We pay the bills that put money in their pockets.
That’s just my take on it. I hope God gives you courage to think and act on what He’s already given you, a mind that can make choices. I’ve learned that God does not control every choice of my life and turn it into a spiritual lesson, just the important things like eternal rewards and actions and love (being like Jesus). By the way, Jesus stood up to people, right? I would lovingly tell them that what their doing is poor customer service. I hope that helped. If not I still love your posts and will not trash talk you.
God bless,
Annie
DEFINITELY: Feel free to disagree. Hey, I disagree with myself all the time.
I think God is teaching me to lean more into him, especially in the times where my natural strengths (skills, aptitude, training, etc.) often tempt me to “go it alone.”
So I agree with you … and I disagree. For me, for now, I’m still trying to walk with God instead of hiking alone.
Sam
Love that reply Sam, It helps me to know you’re following His voice and not mine. I noticed that seems to come with maturity and growth.
Thanks for agreeing to disagree
Do you agree?
Ah, you just made me laugh. And for that I thank you.
Now i’m going to be encouraged by more of your thought-provoking posts.
Bless you and bless your day,
Annie
I absolutely love this! Amen! Lord, may it be as You said it will be. And may everyone see Your Light in us and through us.