Evaluation Maxim 7

Just because it is broken, doesn't mean it needs fixing!

Broken things don’t always need fixing, but they always need attention. Sometimes broken things aren’t really broken they have been misused, abused, abandoned, or misunderstood. Part of the evaluation process is to fully understand the problem. It may take some time to find out what the real problem is. One thing my partial blindness has taught me is an expression I use more and more: “I can’t see very well, so I must observe better!” When I drive, I really must concentrate to be a good driver, especially at night. When I go to fix something, I really have to pay attention to see that I fix the problem correctly. I am forced to notice things other people may miss.

I remember a service call I went on one time. The problem was that the smoke detector was making a beeping noise. Well on the way over, I knew that the smoke detectors didn’t make noise. The ones that we installed, were hooked up to a panel that had a siren that made the noise. I was interested in what I would find and learn when I got there. The woman took me into a bedroom, and I could see the detector on the ceiling. As I waited and talked with the woman, we heard a beeping. I started concentrating on the sound and waited for it again. I heard it again, but it didn’t seem to be coming from the ceiling. It took some time as I waited for it to beep, but I ended up following the beep. It seemed to be coming from under the dresser. We moved the dresser and found a phone pager that was making the noise. The woman exclaimed, “I wondered what had happened to my pager!” Apparently, it had been lost under the dresser and was now emitting a “low battery” signal. There was nothing wrong with the smoke detector.

Many times broken things do not need to be fixed. They need to be replaced. God is a great repairer and restorer, but sometimes He recommends replacement.

Sometimes the “old” things need to be replaced with “new” things.

Matthew 9:16, 17

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

It is critical to evaluate the broken device and to calculate the cost of replacement. Is it worth it? Should it just be abandoned? You must do this evaluation with cars and appliances. One of the purposes of saving money is so that you can replace worn out things. Things will break down and wear out. If you have money saved for these things, you will not have to pay interest and will be better off. One of the key steps of living by faith is to be prepared for the future. The way to face the future is to replace the broken things with good quality. One of my rules on tools is to buy good quality tools if you use them often. If you do not use them often, borrow or rent the tools you need for a particular job. I like old tools but if you don’t use them they just take up space. And if they are broken, they are more trouble than they are worth.

So, either repair it or replace it! Or, if need be, abandon it. Sometimes you can sell it or give it to someone that will benefit from having it. Because of my eyesight, and my desire to write, I don’t read much anymore. One of my greatest pleasures has been giving my books away. I have sought out people who will benefit from them and have tried to give the right book to the right person.

So just because it is broken that doesn't mean it needs to be fixed! Be careful and wise in not spending time, money, and energy attempting to repair something that needs replacing.