Evaluation Maxim 5
Just because something is New, that doesn't make it better.
New is not always better. The advertising gimmick is “New and Improved”. One of the frustrating things I have found out about life is that when I find something I like, someone is wanting to improve it and make it new and improved. When I find a pair of shoes that are comfortable, I usually go back and buy a second pair. The reason is that they either quit making them or change them. The Automobile manufacturers are notorious at this. Have you ever heard of the “new” car smell? Wouldn’t you rather be driving the newest, latest, and greatest? Here is another one: “You should sell your old house and buy a new one.”
The latest gossip used to be on the nightly News. Now it is social media. The Bible says that the Athenians in Acts 17 were engaged in and influenced by new things.
Acts 17:21
“(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)”
The Apostle Paul sensed their problems and made this statement:
Acts 17:22
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”
Their interest in new things led to them being superstitious. So the apostle’s advice to them was to seek the “Old” God. The one that made heaven and earth!
Acts 17:24
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”
He concludes his sermon to them with this invitation:
Acts 17:30-31
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
When you use your “noggin” and start evaluating things properly you are able to see if the new things are improvements or are just new junk!
The way that they market the new Bibles is to promote them as the latest and greatest.
Many times new things are not good things and are not an improvement on the older things. One of the dangers of marriage is when the spouse is no longer pleased with the old spouse and desires a new one, thinking they will be better. They are not. Maybe if I had a new job, then things would be better. Maybe you should stay at the old job and seek to do the best you can and see if things don’t get better.
Please learn this maxim that new things are not always better. It will save you a lot of wasted time, money, energy, and heartaches! It will make you a better fix-it guy and Christian.
Notice these adjustable wrenches. The top one is my grandpa's, the second one is my dad's, the third one is mine. The only difference is that mine was made in China and it is newer! I have used all three of them with success. The newer one was not any better than the older one!
You must evaluate things based upon their usability and if they can be used to bring glory to God!