There is an old adage that says, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” This phrase has left us skeptical and cynical and for good reason. We’ve certainly been burned by those great “offers.” As I read an article written by Douglas Jones called 23 Ingenious Life Hacks To Boost Your Quality of Life1, I had that same feeling. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of this was just too good to be true.
Just to show that the article is no joke, there were 104 items listed. I can understand if the article was titled 20 Life Hacks and he just rounded down the number, giving us three extra hacks as a bonus. However, there is a big discrepancy between 23 and 104. How did Mr. Jones miscount so drastically?
It could be that the article told you about some mind-blowing products you can purchase like a mineral you can let melt in your mouth to regrow gums and teeth, a device that will instantly relieve headaches, light bulb cameras, $99 drones, and a device that you stick to your belly and arms that will build muscle after 20 minutes every day. Sound too good to be true? You’ll have to purchase the products and find out for yourself.
Other hacks used stuff around your home. Now, these were truly ingenious in their simplicity. For instance, you can wrap doorknobs in aluminum foil to protect them while painting. Binder clips can be used to untangle electronics’ cables to keep them handy. Toothpaste and an old toothbrush can be used to clean the rubber on old sneakers. Hot glue a penny to the bottom of the legs of wobbly, uneven tables. Open rigid plastic containers with an old-style, hand operated can opener. Chop some bars of Irish Spring soap and spread those throughout your landscaping or any place where you don’t want critters. They can’t stand the smell of the soap.
Articles like this interest me. I also am fascinated by gadgets and if it weren’t for the fact that I’m a tightwad and extremely skeptical, I would probably want to experiment to see which ones work and which ones don’t. Am I missing out? Probably. But I’m not missing anything that would be so life changing that it will fill me with eternal regret in the future.
That’s not the case for many people.
Several times throughout the Bible, too good to be true offers were made and people didn’t believe them. One of the first takes us back to Genesis 17:15-17. “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. (16) And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. (17) Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” Before there was ROFL, Abraham was doing it. He was rolling on the floor, laughing at God! This is a too good to be true offer and the disbelief has overwhelmed him.
In the New Testament, the same reaction was had by Zacharias. He was told that he was going to father a child with his wife. Two problems. They had been barren throughout their marriage, and they are now “well stricken in years.” This disbelief thrust a nine-month hold on Zacharias’ tongue.
Though these offers were both received with doubt and disbelief, they were given regardless. One other offer is made that’s not given away to the doubter. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Too good to be true? Many believe it is and have rejected this offer. God doesn’t make them accept it anyway. He withholds the best thing from them until they “repent and believe the Gospel.” Once they call upon the Lord to be saved, though, that offer is granted.
So If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is – but not necessarily. Don’t allow suspicion and disbelief to keep you from taking advantage of excellent opportunities. When it comes to a product, should we be wary? Yes. Should we THINK before we buy? Definitely. How many kids bought x-ray glasses from Bazooka bubble gum in the 1900s?
Spiritually speaking, if it’s too good to be true, is it? Should we try the spirits? Absolutely! That’s mandatory according to 1 John 4:1. Should we weigh what we’ve heard against the Word of God? ALWAYS! But if it is of the Holy Spirit and backed by the Word of God, don’t miss out on that deal, especially the offer of eternal life!
1https://lifehack.getconsumerchoice.com/
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