In 1992 Hoover Vacuum of England offered a promotion of 2 free plane tickets to America for anyone who bought one of their vacuums. Lots of people did the math and quickly realized it was much cheaper to buy a vacuum than 2 tickets to America.
The company was overwhelmed and their scheme to make customers jump through impossible hoops or buy upgraded tickets from a designated travel agent, was publicly exposed. A legal battle followed for the next six years until eventually 220,000 people won their flights and top management lost their jobs.
The Hoover executives had failed to count the cost. They promised too much for too little and failed to deliver as promised. Jesus warned against such behavior, cautioning His followers to count the cost before starting a new project, lest they be the ridicule of those who see their failure.
Remember, be careful what you promise. You only have 24 hours each day. Promising only what you have time to deliver will redeem the time.
Rick Grubbs is best known as the host of “Redeeming the Time,” a one-minute radio program featured on hundreds of radio outlets around the world. He has spoken thousands of times on Biblical time management in all 50 states and 26 other countries. He is the author of the book “Morning Momentum: God’s plan for launching an unstoppable day”. He and his wife Carrie live in Salisbury NC with several of their 12 children.
