Synopsis
A review of Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship by American entrepreneur, investor, and Get-Rich-Quick author MJ DeMarco
- Paul: Burn 🔥
- Matthew:
- Paul: Steal 📚
- Matthew:
A Warning About The Baby Formula Scam
Introduction
By Paul Anderson
Thanks to the Chosen study, I realized how much space in the house I have lost over the years to junk. So, this summer's project is to de-clutter. Hopefully, I can return the ping pong room back to its function, instead of a storage room for a lifetime supply of Chick-fil-A waffle fries.
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| photo by Paul Anderson, 7/19/24 |
The first step in the de-clutter plan is to have a plan. I figured that the plan should use some of the wisdom I gained while doing the Clutter study. It is clear that getting rid of the abundance is a good thing. There is a time to cast away. But how should it be done? I chose Mark 10:21 as my guiding verse.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
There are two actions included in Jesus' advice. Sell and give to the poor. So, I wanted at least two steps in the plan. However, I decided to add some backup methods since I had experience with selling a spinning bike on Ebay years ago that was a success, while selling a treadmill, at the same time, that was not.
Ebay was not quite the get-rich-quick method for which I had hoped. Some things sell, some things don't. It was like getting a black gumball (imagine licorice flavored) from your penny. Except, in my case, it was 40 black gumballs from $258.44 of sales for a profit of $64.96. You see, in the world of gumballs the gold one is the money-maker. However, in the Ebay gumball machine there is only one gold gumball for every 1,000 black gumballs.
If you like the gumball parable, I don't take the credit. I got it from one of the books I read during the Clutter study: Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship by MJ DeMarco. It was possibly the only redeeming part of his book. Burn 🔥.
Maybe it's the constant use of profanity, but this guy seems way too angry for someone living his dream. It sounds like every other get-rich-quick book, except he didn't write his for the money 🙄. It is amazing how I couldn't hate a book more despite agreeing with the overall premise. I think it has zero spiritual value though. He misses the fact that the 7-day week and work are part of the curse that comes from God's script.
Chapter 18 finally has some practical tools like using math to create goals and breaking things into small habits. Too bad most of the content is just him railing against group think and his bad reviews. I could have gotten his point in 3 min of listening to The Grand Illusion from Styx vs 9 hours of his babble. So, when I got to the chapter on momentum paralysis, where he rants about not being able to stop reading a book he hates, Fifty Shades of Grey, I couldn't help thinking that I could relate. At least, his bad book was scripted. Mine was unscripted.
Although it did finish better than it started with less rants and more details, it is not worth reading. How hard is it to remember the gumball parable: just keep plugging in pennies until the gold 💰 lands.
Of course, Ebay may still not be the answer. So, this time the treadmill will get bumped down the steps until it is gone.
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| photo by Paul Anderson, 6/30/24 |
- Sell
- Ebay Auction
- Garage Sale
- Give
- Play It Again Sports
- Goodwill
While giving things away definitely has a benefit for the giver, it may not always help the receiver.
I recently fell for the baby formula scam.
I try not to give away cash as it can be misused very easily. I had a homeless man ask me, "Could you help a hungry soul?"
Being outside of IHOP, I responded, "What would you like?" I figured I could certainly afford to buy a plate of pancakes.
"$10 should be good," he replied.
The request for cash was a red flag. So, I ran to my car and retrieved a coupon for a free sandwich at McDonalds. He looked at the coupon with extreme disappointment, "I can't get to McDonalds and they would be closed anyway."
I pointed out that a 24-hour McDonalds was directly across the street from where we were standing. He had no reply. He just crumbled the coupon and threw it on the ground. I guess he wasn't that hungry after all.
On to the baby formula scam.
A young woman stopped me at Walmart and asked if I could buy her some baby formula. Since it wasn't a request for cash, I was agreeable. She picked out two cans of formula for $120. The amount of the purchase was a red flag. However, I didn't think she could return these for cash and it was possible her baby had a dietary issue that required special formula. So, I agreed to buy one can for $60. Then she requested the receipt, and alarm bells went off in my head. I told her I needed the receipt, but she was able to get one from the clerk.
So, I felt I had been scammed. A quick search of Google confirmed it. This is not new. When the price of baby formula skyrocketed a couple year back, this scam became popular. The formula is often resold (for a discount) on Ebay to get the cash. Not quite the golden gumball but close to my total sales on Ebay.
I guess a new expression is in order: Twice bitten, thrice shy.
However, my consolation was that I may have inadvertently helped two people: the scammer and the mother who actually needs the discounted baby formula. In addition, I might just sell the treadmill for $60 if I add my sob story to the auction.
Here are my top 12 verses on Clutter:
Jesus On Clutter
Matthew 6:19-20 King James Version
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mark 10:21 King James Version
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Luke 12:15 King James Version
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 15:8-10 King James Version
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Revelation 2:4-5 King James Version
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Clutter In The New Testament
1 Corinthians 14:40 King James Version
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 King James Version
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
James 5:3 King James Version
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Clutter In The Old Testament
Exodus 27:21 King James Version
21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
2 Kings 20:1 King James Version
20 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
Ecclesiastes 3:6 King James Version
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
Isaiah 23:17-18 King James Version
17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
The word "clutter" occurs 0 times in the Bible. In addition, the synonyms "trash," "garbage," and "junk" also never occur in the Bible. This makes for a tough study when you are trying to get to 12 verses on the subject. Fortunately, the word "order" does occur often enough to complete the study.
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament promote order. Aaron and his sons were specifically chosen to keep the tabernacle in order. Paul seems to tie order to productivity in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. The idea that having an ordered workspace makes doing your job easier is repeated in other motivation books and is sound advice that continues to this day. In addition, God recommends getting your house in order before your death. I guess, back then, they didn't have the large dumpsters that you see parked in front of every house that sells these days - bin there, dump that!
However, you may have to be careful which items you remove. James 5:3 makes it clear that the gold and silver items are good to go, as they will not only provide no benefit to you in the last days but also will harm you. No offense to the famous silversmith, Paul Revere, but it was a good thing that he found other things to do with his skill.
"Revere smiled. 'There's a time for the casting of silver and a time for the casting of cannon. If that's not in the Bible, it should be.'"
This quote comes from the other book I read during the Clutter study: Johnny Tremain by Esther Louise Forbes. It was a nice change of pace from the previous book I mentioned. Steal 📚. I do enjoy historical fictions like Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. A book that is well written can cleanse the palate of a dozen bitter books. The description of a young apprentice growing up in 18th century Boston had the sound of Mockingbird. The clever weaving of history and fiction gives you a fuller picture of the likes of John Hancock and Paul Revere. And Johnny even shares his favorite literature with you: Tom Jones, Robinson Crusoe, & Paradise Lost.
While selling your possession and giving to the poor is a good idea, I might hold on to the candlesticks. Revelation 2:4-5 seems to suggest you don't want to remove those.
Research
0 Bible results for “clutter” from King James Version.
0 Bible results for “trash” from King James Version.
0 Bible results for “garbage” from King James Version.
0 Bible results for “junk” from King James Version.
66 Bible results for “order” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (48)
- Genesis (1)
- Exodus (5)
- Leviticus (7)
- Joshua (1)
- Judges (2)
- 2 Samuel (2)
- 1 Kings (2)
- 2 Kings (2)
- 1 Chronicles (6)
- 2 Chronicles (3)
- Job (5)
- Psalm (6)
- Ecclesiastes (1)
- Isaiah (3)
- Jeremiah (1)
- Ezekiel (1)
- New Testament (18)
- Luke (3)
- Acts (3)
- 1 Corinthians (4)
- Colossians (1)
- Titus (1)
- Hebrews (6)
Scripture contributions for April 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson
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