Is It Really A Deal?

I got an email the other day with the subject “Exclusive Deal Inside!”

Exciting, right? “Exclusive” means it’s just for me. WOW. The problem is, I didn’t recognize the sender’s name. I thought “Why would they have a deal for me?” But I was curious, so I opened the email.

Turns out it was from the dealer where we bought my car. They were offering me just under $5,000 for my vehicle (I paid double that three years ago), and in return I could get a 2024 Lexus for the low, low price of $37,500!! WHAT A DEAL!!!

Praise the Lord, when we bought my car we were in a position to pay cash for it, so I don’t have a car payment. And this car has never given me any trouble. I’ve done regular maintenance on it, and I often think (and it’s true) that it’s the nicest car I’ve ever owned, and is really comfy. (Heated. Seats. the end.)

Even though it’s a 2012, it’s in great shape. Everything on the interior is in great condition, everything works, and I have not once thought about trying to upgrade or trade it in.

Honestly, this “deal” the car lot was offering me didn’t tempt me in the least. Obviously we do not have the money for a car upgrade, and frankly we don’t need it. I actually laughed after I read it.

Har-de-har-har.

But sometimes, doesn’t Satan sneak into your thought life and plant seeds of “upgrades” you could get if you REALLY wanted them? Doesn’t he dangle “deals” in front of your face and emphasize the thing he’s offering rather than the terms of the deal?

Yeah, a brand new Lexus is a pretty snazzy vehicle. Owning something shiny and new would probably feel nice and make me feel pretty good about myself. It might even make me feel better than other people. For a while.

But eventually I’d have to make a car payment. And then keep making car payments. A loan on $37,500 on top of a mortgage payment and everything else we pay for in this life can quickly become overwhelming.

Has Satan ever tempted you to play the comparison game by offering you a “deal”? Perhaps he’s dangled something shiny at the corner of your eye, and he’s pulled you in to take more than a quick glance at it.

Perhaps he’s gotten you to give it a really good once-over, and now it’s gotten stuck in your mind that you deserve it. Maybe you’ve been feeling like you’re owed a little something more than what “life” has dealt you, so why not consider it? Why not take it for a test drive? What can that hurt? It’s not like that means you’re signing any papers…

You can fill in the blank with whatever that looks like for you.

We have to be so careful with these “deals from the devil”. He will often show us the benefits of having the upgrade (that we didn’t even think we wanted until he showed it to us), but he neglects to tell us the total cost of the item. Or how long we will pay for taking him up on his offer.

Some of these deals lead to financial ruin. Some ruin our marriage. Some alienate our children. Some ruin us physically. Some instantly fill us with regret. Some drag us so far from the ways of the Lord that we can’t imagine finding the path back to Him. We have to think through the long-term consequences of choices that take a moment to make.

One powerful way to combat the lure of these “deals” is to live a life of thankfulness. A cheerful and thankful heart often rehearses what is good in life, and looks for blessings and opportunities to praise the Lord. A thankful heart’s default response is gratitude. A thankful heart is satisfied with what the Lord provides. A thankful heart is kind to those around them, and generously offers praise and not criticism.

We must be on guard, because these “deals” will always be out there. Of course there will also be something that looks nicer, but comes with a hefty price. With practice, we can create the habit of deleting these deals without even opening them. Eventually, we won’t even offer them a fleeting glance, but instead turn our eyes heavenward and thank the Lord for His good gifts, and our life that currently is.

What is a good gift in your life that you can thank God for today? Don’t just type it below. Take the time to tell God that you are thankful for it. And then do it again later. And again tomorrow…

Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

Psalm 100
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. (2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

James 1:12-17
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (16) Do not err, my beloved brethren. (17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.