[280 words]
Candy manufacturer Clarence Crane wanted a “summer candy” that could withstand heat better than chocolate. So, he came up with what was called the “Life Saver” due to its shape resembling that of a traditional ring-style life preserver.
But he did not have much luck selling it. So he sold the rights to Edward John Noble for $2,900. Noble tweaked the packaging but what really made the candy take off was his marketing approach. Noble would install Life Savers displays next to the cash registers. He’d encouraged the owners to always give customers a nickel in their change. With the slogan “Still only 5 cents” staring at them there and a nickel in their hand customers couldn’t resist.
It’s hard to resist the easy.
That is what Satan does. He makes sin easy. It’s just “fill in the blank”. It is only a little lie. It is just a bit of immorality. It won’t be but a second. And many can’t resist.
That is why we need to make it easy to do right. Set ourselves up to do the things we want to do. If I want to read my Bible every day, set it in a place where I’ll be and see it. If I want to not miss church, I need to clear away anything else in my schedule before it can draw me away.
Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 16:19 “…I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” Let us remember that with Satan it is never only that and with us, we are being smart in making sure we are doing what is good.
Barry Haynes
Hope Church of Christ
Hope, AR