The Persuasive Power of a Satisfied Customer

Suppose you’re looking to purchase a new car and are having trouble deciding what to buy. Who would you trust more – the salesperson at the car dealership needing to make a sale to earn a commission or a good friend who recently bought a car similar to what you’re considering? Probably the friend, right?  

Most likely it would be the same if you were shopping for a new state-of-the-art TV, a large kitchen appliance, or even someone to do major renovations in your home. It always helps to ask the opinion of a “satisfied customer” who can speak to a product’s merits from personal experience.

 

The same can be said for matters of faith. With the chaotic state of our world today, with gloom-and-doom dominating the evening news, more and more people are becoming aware of their spiritual needs, the yawning vacuum in their lives the material world seems ill-equipped to fill. At the same time, most of these folks aren’t rushing to church on Sunday mornings.

 

Why is that? There are many reasons, but for one thing, with the plethora of denominations coupled with a multitude of local congregations large and small, the “seeker” hasn’t a clue about where to go. Even if they surf through the channels to find TV preachers, they encounter a vast array of personalities, well-polished speakers who often seem to give contradictory messages. So, who should seekers believe and trust? Is it multiple choice – the old saw, “There are many ways to God. All that matters is that you’re sincere”? Or are there bedrock truths that provide answers for their spiritual questions?

 

This brings us back to the value of a “satisfied customer.” I remember years ago when I was trying to make sense of life in general and my own life in particular. I’d always believed in God in an intellectual way, and the stories I’d heard about Jesus Christ seemed interesting. But was there more to belief in God than sending up occasional “flare prayers” in times of crisis?

 

I had visited some churches and they each had their own rituals and traditions; but one said this while another said that. Who was right?

 

Then God took me and my family to Houston, Texas where my uncle and aunt lived. I had great affection and admiration for them, so when they invited us to their church, we agreed to go. Being new to the area, we didn’t have any better ideas anyway.

 

What I heard at that church resonated with truth. Equally important, it was something my relatives clearly believed in and lived out in their lives. Without question, they were satisfied customers who understood what it meant to know and follow Jesus Christ. Over time that influenced me to take a serious look at the Bible and what it revealed about Jesus. 

 

On TV we often see testimonials from persons (usually actors) who supposedly use and endorse various products, ranging from health insurance and prescription drugs to cereals and laundry detergent. “Take my word for it!” they assure us as they pocket their endorsement checks. Obviously, companies wouldn’t spend big bucks to produce and air commercials for their products if they didn’t work. 

 

As Christ followers, we can give testimonials, too, except we call them testimonies. And we do it not because we’re paid, but because as satisfied customers of the Good News of Jesus Christ, we’re eager for others to know about it as well. We can explain what we believe and tell of the difference it has made in our lives. As 1 Peter 3:15 instructs, “…Always be prepared to give an answer to every who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have….” 

 

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to do this on two separate occasions, first at a funeral for a member of our extended family and then during an interview with someone conducting research on religious beliefs. I don’t know the impact of what I had to say, but all we’re responsible for is giving our answer when someone has asked about what we believe.

 

This is why the remainder of 1 Peter 3:15 and the verse following are so important. They say, “…But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” To be clear, no one spoke negatively about what I expressed, but my desire was to share my faith respectfully with sincere concern for those who were listening.

 

Once we’ve communicated about our faith in Jesus and what He’s done in our lives, we can leave the results to God. As the apostle Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Paul knew he wasn’t the one doing the saving.

 

Reading the book of Acts and several of Paul’s epistles, we find he truly was “ready always to give an answer.” Or as another translation expresses it, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you….” 

 

On numerous occasions the one-time zealous persecutor of Christians spoke boldly before government officials and religious leaders who challenged him about his dramatic change of heart. In fact, he wrote to fellow believers in the city of Ephesus, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20).

 

As the spiritual need intensifies in a world that’s turning into a spiritual wasteland, are we willing to do the same? Does anyone know that you’re one of Jesus’ “satisfied customers”?

Putting Emphasis in the Wrong Place?

“We expect results!” Have you ever heard someone say that? In the business world, it’s said by a boss, client, or investor. It’s expressed – or at least implied – in the sports world, by a manager bringing in a relief pitcher and a coach putting in a player off the bench. If you’re a consumer, if you don’t say it, at least you’re thinking it when you buy a new car or glitzy smartphone, or try a new diet. It’s about results.

We do live in a results-oriented world. We expect a lot of others – and might expect even more from ourselves. If we go to the gym, we want to become instantly fit and shed excess pounds immediately, if not sooner. Maybe that’s why so many people start physical fitness programs and then stop so quickly. They didn’t get the results they wanted.

In a marriage, we often do things with an expected return. Sensing some tension in the home, a husband decides to do a good deed for his wife or buy her flowers, candy or something else. He suspects that will salve any wounds – even if Clueless Clem doesn’t know what he did to cause them. But when the “easy fix” doesn’t come about, hubby gets frustrated. “What do you want from me?” he thinks. And if he actually utters those words, there’s more trouble coming, so he better zip his lip.

This is often the case spiritually as well. We spend a few minutes reading the Bible and expect to become instant spiritual giants, or pause a moment or two in deep, fervent prayer, and look for God’s fast-response team to arrive. But it doesn’t work that way. Spiritual growth isn’t necessarily a cause-and-effect pursuit. If you see someone you really admire for their godliness and depth of faith, you can be assured that didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of much pain and strain, daily devotion, and perseverance during the hard times.

Results, after all, are greatly overrated. Even if you succeed today, whether it’s completing a presentation or winning a round of golf, you’ll have to prove yourself over again tomorrow. So it’s best to appreciate the small, incremental steps of progress when they occur, recognizing some days we soar and other days we barely limp along.

We can gain an important lesson from the world of vegetation. Not every seed we plant will germinate, and the expected growth may take much longer than anticipated. Nevertheless, the secret to success is simply pressing on. Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson made the wise observation, “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

A veteran farmer or skilled gardener understands that sometimes the crop will be bountiful, other times it won’t amount to much at all. And often they’re not in control of the outcome.

This holds true for us spiritually, as the Scriptures affirm. The apostle Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).

We have the privilege of participating in the work the Lord is doing in the world around us, but it’s not up to us to dictate outcomes or how quickly they come about. All we can do is our part – and remain patient. The results are up to Him.

Speaking to his disciples, Jesus offered the parable of the sower, telling about the farmer who went out sowing seed that fell on different types of soils. Some seeds fell on the path and were devoured by birds. Others fell on rocky ground and sprang up quickly, only to wither due to heat and lack of water. Still other seeds were choked out by thorns that overwhelmed them.

At that point the farmer could have thrown up his hands and declared, “What’s the use?!” Results expected but not realized. Yet the agricultural expert kept on sowing; seeds that fell onto good, fertile soil resulted in an abundant harvest.

There’s a good lesson in there for us. If we’re seeking to grow spiritually ourselves, not every worship service or conference we attend will be a sacred gold mine. Not every time we read the Bible will bring us “Wow!” or “Aha!” moments. If our desire is to see our children – or grandchildren – well-grounded in faith, we won’t observe dramatic results every time we interact with them. And if there’s a friend, or relative, or coworker we’re concerned about spiritually, we’re wise not to expect results. At least not immediately.

Most things that are really important take time. And nothing’s more important than someone’s relationship with God. A lifetime of faithfulness can’t be accomplished in a day, a week, or even a month. Because as Paul said, it’s God who makes things grow. He gives the increase.

So take Stevenson’s advice. Don't evaluate today by the harvest you’ll reap. Just worry about the seeds you plant. We never know which will take root and flourish.