The $300 Blunder
“Therefore lay aside all falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25
TOO MUCH OF A DEAL
My boys and I have built two houses together. Home Depot has been our oasis of help to us in both projects. But I had a funny experience there that I’ll never forget.
Two of my sons and I just finished building a our second house—a home for our oldest son Wally, his wife Charity and their four great kids. In the process, we bought too much insulation, so I returned the leftovers to Home Depot. I was cheerfully given a card with credit for my next purchase, but when I got home I discovered an error.
The card should have said $86, but instead it read $386. They had made a whopping $300 mistake in my favor! Thirty years ago, I would have shouted, “Whoopee!” and high-fived everyone around. “Yes! Three hundred big ones!” Not now, though. I’ve learned a few lessons since then.
God sees—God knows. He not only sees my actions but He also perfectly knows my every thought and motive. (Proverbs 16:2, I Corinthians 4:5) I knew I needed to do what was right.
TRYING HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING
A week or so later, I drove an hour to a different Home Depot than where I bought the insulation to tell them about the mistake. They complimented me on my honesty but said they couldn’t do anything about it. I’d have to drive another hour to the store where I made my original purchase. In years gone by I would have sighed, “Oh, I tried. It’s too much of a bother. Besides, they sell billions of dollars of merchandise every year. It won’t matter to them anyway.” And I would have kept the money. But not now. As I said…I’ve learned some of my lessons.
Enroute to the original store I mused, When I get there and give them this money they’ll say, “Oh how honest,” just as other employees had. They won’t bring me to the manager and say, “Wow, you can’t believe this honest customer!” They won’t give me a gift certificate. They won’t give me a discount. NOTHING. Just, “Oh how nice.” Then the next customer will come and it will be over and completely forgotten.
It happened just as I had anticipated—no trips to the manager, no special bonuses or discounts, not even a free 39 cent McDonald’s hamburger. Just a swipe of the card and couple buttons pushed, and they were $300 richer for their 60 billion dollar company and I was out the cash of their mistake.
IRONY OF IRONIES
Ironically, just two weeks later, I had to buy just one small bolt from the very same store. The employee who was helping me wouldn’t let me take the fifty-cent bolt out to my trailer to check its size. I even offered my wallet as collateral. Nope. Nothin’ doing. He thought I might steal it. Good grief. I didn’t bother to explain.
The night the boys and I corrected the error, I told the rest of our family about what had happened, then forgot about it. But God didn’t.
Two weeks later I contacted a man about $300 I owed him. To my astonishment, he replied, “I appreciate all you’re doing for others. Keep the money.” Wow! That had never happened before.
A couple of months later we experienced a difficulty as a family. An old friend heard about it and sent us a check with a card. Guess how much it was? You guessed it— $300. Not a dollar more, not a dollar less. God exactly doubled what I gave back to Home Depot.
SEEK HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS…IT HAS GOD’S REWARDS
Never be afraid to be honest. The second part of seeking first His kingdom is seeking “His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) That means to do things the way Jesus would.
Begin at home. If you’ve been dishonest with your mom or dad, make it right. Remember, your brothers, sisters, friends, bosses, teachers—and companies too! It can seem like God is not aware, but He often leaves us alone to see what we will do. (2 Chronicles 32:31) Walk the “narrow path” Jesus described in Matthew 7:14 and you’ll see God very wisely and skillfully guide you into His very clever and very beautiful plans for your life.
Nothing can compare with that—not even making a quick three hundred ☺.
“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
Hallelujah! There is incredible reward for doing the right thing!
Don Miller