“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” {Colossians 3:23-24}
Not until yesterday did I really understand the economics of the “S&H Green Stamps.” I thought it was a simple reward program, but there was some business profits being reaped by the stamp company who also provided the retailers with the books. You will find out, if you check it out, that it was more than something to keep us busy as kids or to help us with developing our dexterity by pasting the green stamps perfectly in the marked squares on each page. Google it and learn about how the Green Stamp business thrived in the sixties and fizzled out in the nineties during the recession.
If a stamp book had twenty-four pages and there were fifty stamp spaces on each book, that equated to pasting 1200 stamps saved in one book. It might have taken two books to get a basketball as I recall, and keep in mind it took time, patience, and energy or shall we just say “work” to redeem a book or books of stamps to get your desired item featured in the S&H catalog. But note that we did not give up on the work. Yes, indeed, we worked! We put forth a great effort, sometimes over a great period of time and our hopes never diminished. Yes, we worked on redeeming green stamps. If you are too young to relate to this, ask you parents or grandparents. They will validate my report.
Of course this makes me think; causes me to ask a particular question: We worked on redeeming green stamps, so why don’t we put the same degree of work in redeeming souls for the Lord? What we got out of redeeming green stamps did not last forever. The stamps are gone. Unless you are a candidate for the reality show about hoarders, the items you got for all your hard work, they are gone too. But get this! The work of redemption done by Jesus on the cross is still going on! Yes, He did the ultimate work, but we are to be continuing the work, helping others experience the joy of redemption. Of course it take work. It takes effort. It takes patience, and it takes obedience to the Great Commission. We worked on redeeming green stamps back in the day, so…what happened to our work on redeeming souls for Jesus? That work will not stop because of inflation, recession, or any earthy business condition. It is, as a matter of fact, heavenly business until Jesus comes back for His bride, the church. The work of redeeming souls should not stop because of shut-ins, shutdowns, or when our body is inevitably shutting down. You see, In regard to the latter we always, in this life, will have a testimony that can help someone experience redemption! So…let us get to the work! Be blessed!
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” (Psalm 107:2 KJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King