Skip to main content

What Good Can You Do?


               When Henry Harrod opened a restaurant in the little town of Otorohanga, New Zealand, he had no idea that he was about to start an international incident.
                In 1986, he received a letter from the owner of Harrod’s department store in London, England stating that he was being sued for copyright infringement.  Specifically, he was informed he could not use the name “Harrod’s” and that the lettering on his sign was too similar to that of the larger corporation.  Henry would have to change the name of his restaurant, or risk being shut down. 
                When the people in town heard about this, they did something remarkable.  Every business in town changed its name to Harrod’s.  In fact, town council went one step further and changed the name of the town to Harrodsville.
                Eventually, the British tabloids got wind of the story and they jumped on it.  Story after story shamed and mocked the larger company for its actions.  Eventually, in an effort to stop the negative publicity, Harrod’s of London withdrew their lawsuit.  Soon after that, the businesses changed their names back, the town became Otorohanga once again and Henry Harrod went back to running his business as he had done before.
                Often, our problems seem huge and our resources look minuscule.  It is easy to think that there is nothing we can do to make the situation better.  However, when we do the good we can do, whether big or small, we can make a difference and change the outcome. Our actions and reactions matter.
                In 2 Timothy, we find these words, “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Timothy 2:14-16).
                We always have a choice:  We can respond in Godly or ungodly ways.  When we choose to do what is right and best, we help make the circumstances around us better.  Even more, we become useful to God as he works in, through and by us (see verses 20-21).
                Regardless of what is happening, you can make a difference and be a force for good.
                Just ask Henry Harrod.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: Who Needs Worship?

  Why does God need our worship? The events of Matthew 14 provide at least one answer.   This chapter starts with the beheading of John the Baptist (verses 1-12). This is the first in a series of events that indicate things are about to become much more difficult for the believers. Next, the scene shifts to a crowd gathered on a hillside in Galilee. After listening to Jesus teach all day, the apostles realized that these people had nothing to eat. They brought the problem to Jesus. He took a child’s lunch and fed the entire group of five thousand men plus women and children. Afterwards, they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers (verses 13-21).   Then Jesus told them to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. As they went, a storm arose, and the apostles were scared. They struggled along until Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter tried walking on the water too and sank. After Jesus rescued Peter, they got into the boat, and the storm immediately s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Spiritual Makeover (1 Peter 1:13-16)

 Three responses to the new life God has given us.  https://youtu.be/FmqX5-3jOKc  
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: The Danger of Drifting

   Consider This: The Danger of Drifting Most people will not blow up their life in one big, messy moment. It can happen, and when it does, the damage is obvious and instantaneous. Like a car wreck at an intersection, people make a bad decision, and chaos ensues. Parts and pieces scatter all over. People get hurt. Situations like this are unexpected, loud, shocking and scary. Most of us will not wreck our lives in one big, terrible moment. The real danger is that we will lose what is valuable in small, almost imperceptible steps. It happens all the time. You can leave your marriage without ever leaving your house. You can leave your faith while still attending church. You can leave your life while you are still living it. Many people lose what they love, not by making one big, out-of-character decision, but by coasting, disengaging, neglecting and missing what matters. Almost every Biblical list of Christian characteristics mentions “Self-control”, yet I have not g...
Post a Comment
Read more