Financially free?
July 6, 2010 (Tuesday)
I went into a bank one day, and was told by the person in charge, “I’m sorry, we cannot help you today; our computer is down.” That was several years ago, and it has not happened again at a bank, but it has happened at other businesses. Hopefully, it does not happen these days, although I’m afraid it still does. Hardly anyone does business the old-fashioned way: cash.
We were visiting in Austin and my wife and daughter went shopping at a well-known store. When they were ready to complete their transaction, the young clerk asked, “Will this be cash or charge?” Wanda said, “Cash.” There was a long silence and then the young lady said, with a confused expression, “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do cash.” She was obviously new on the job and still had much to learn, but I took her response to indicate that most people use some form of credit card for purchases.
J. C. Penny was an old-fashioned man. He believed in hard work, integrity and no credit. Only after his stores went public and his board insisted on credit for the customers did the chain accept credit cards.
I recall an ordination sermon by M.O. Cheek, a good old Baptist preacher from days gone by. The program described his part of the service as “Charge to the Candidate.” His three points:
2. Be charged-don’t let your spiritual battery run down.
3. Don’t charge-pay cash!