Peddlers

It’s become a sad state of affairs when a body is afraid to leave his own home not knowing if it will be in the same condition when he returns. Nowadays we have to lock everything up and turn on an alarm to deter theft and wanton destruction. What’s even worse, we feel we have to purchase some back-up Smith & Wesson tactical force to feel comfortable when we are at home. In the cold country where I grew up all the utilities entered the home via the basement due to freezing and other inclement weather conditions. Once a month a complete stranger would enter your home and read the meters. A knock on the door, “Meter reader” and you let the guy in, showed him the basement door and he did his business. If it was snowless, he would enter through an exterior door directly into the basement and unless you saw him you wouldn’t even know he had been there. Not anymore! In light of the news reports, especially over the past twenty years, it seems it’s getting to a point a body can’t trust anyone anymore. Not only that, but our children and our seniors are in danger of abuse and outright theft. We’re living in the world of “me” and “I” with the attitude of, if “I” want it “I’ll” do whatever it takes to get it. How much worse can it get? Standby, hide and watch.
I saw some folks going from door to door the other day in an attempt to sell a cleaning product following a rather dramatic demonstration in the home. I’ve been there before and it’s amazing to me that the product the salesperson gives you at the time of purchase never does work as good as the stuff that was in their bottle they demonstrated with. The “peddler”, one who sells door to door, has been around a long, long time. Early America, and especially early Western America, relied and depended on the peddler for much of the household goods needed to have a more comfortable life. But some peddlers had a reputation for cheating and misrepresentation in order to secure some benefit for himself. Sincerity was not high on the hucksters list. He was prepared to say anything to make a sale. For example, there is the story of the oft-fooled bald-headed man who asked the peddler, “Can you prove this is a good hair restorer?” To which the peddler replied, “One lady customer took the cork out of the bottle with her teeth and twenty-four hours later she had a full mustache!” Some folks will say almost anything if it works to their advantage. Have we been taught such behavior? Consider collegiate debate teams. They argue subjects, even nonsensical, just to practice arguing a subject (essential training for lawyers and politicians). The rub for me is that one day students argue “for” the subject at hand and the next day they argue “against” the same subject. I’m afraid that’s where some of the insensitivity of our leaders is coming from. They don’t care which side of the fence they’re on, just so long as they end up on the winning team. Can “me” ever become “we” and mean it?
[2 Corinthians 2: 12 - 3: 18] In verse 17, Paul says, “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary; in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” Let’s face it. There are still “peddlers” of God’s word today. They preach to benefit themselves, although they say it’s to glorify God. Religion is being watered down, diluted to the point of being a social club. There are no absolutes of right or wrong, reward or punishment being taught our children today. I believe; therefore I speak. God’s will is written and it is mine. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18)