Who does charity / freebee cuts? Why?

[BAMARED]

Just thought I would check and see how many of ya'll do charity or freebee cuts for others on an occasional basis and the reason(s) for doing it. I'm talking about cutting other people's grass that can't cut there own. Examples could be elderly on a fixed income, someone that's wheel-chair bound, and I'm sure the list could go on and on.

I'm calling you out - so now's the time to toot your "good deed horn" and let us know about it!

I have (2) customers that I cut at a very reduced price due to the fact that you would offend both of them if you offered to do it for free. One is an 83 year old lady that's as sweet as the day is long. She cut and maintained her own yard up to last season when she finally gave it up and hired me. I basically charge her 1/2 price. The other customer is a wheel chair bound young fellow.

We all work hard for our money doing this type of work and I know that we would go broke in a hurry if all we did was these type of good deeds - but, nevertheless, I feel like there is a place for this in our line of work. Thoughts?

Thanks,

BAMARED

[MikeLT1Z28]

not to sound like a prude, but i won't be doing it. no one pays my bills or meals for me so i gotta make it somehow. also if you do it once....

[Mykster]

I agree with MikeLT on this one. Just sent off a bid to a elderly couple who's husband is parapallegeic. I felt bad for her and her husband but, can't afford to be cutting prices just to help her out.

[wolfpacklawn]

I do three places for free. All widows that do not have family who can help. All of them started as paying customers. One of them actually pays when she can but I never send her a bill.

The reason- They need it done and they really can't afford to pay someone else to do it. One lady (in her 70's) has to work at a fast food joint to make ends meet. I figured it takes her 4 hours of work to pay for what takes my crew about 12 min. to do. I've been helped by others in my life when I was in need and I like to pass it on when I can.

MikeLT1Z28
Even better than being independent (which seems to be your point) is understanding interdependence. Everyone needs help at some point in their life. Its not like these old ladies or disabled people are leaches on society. Someday you may need help from someone else who is in a position to help you. I hope they help you out.
I'm not saying you're wrong, I would just hope that when you feel you are doing well in your business that you may consider having a little charity.

[MikeLT1Z28]

well, i am for helping everyone i can. at this point in business i can't afford to as we have noted. what i am saying is that if one person is getting it done cheap/free and other friends or customers find out, then they want it that way and want to know why they can't have it. some people would understand the situation while others just want to save a buck.

i hate seeing anyone in a bad situation, health or financially, but sometimes you just can't help. at this point in business, i am one of the ones who can't help. now i would recommend them to someone who could save them some money or do it for free if i knew anyone who would. even if it meant not having them as a customer. yeah i know not having them at all would be even less profitable than doing it cut rate, but i'd rather wash myself clean of the situation if i were in it.

[65hoss]

I don't do ongoing cheap or freebies. If its a regular job then I must be at a certain level. But, when someone is in need and its 1 or maybe 2 times, I'll take care of it. I've done a few in the past. Honestly, it takes longer to warm up a mower than to cut a 2000 sf front lawn.

I do understand people not being able to do this. Heck, nobody depends on my income but me. But, it just always seems to work out in the end. A good deed never goes unpunished (ok, unnoticed). ;)

[GarPA]

I put in spring and fall annuals for my development entrance and another one up the street...charity? not really...but when I have some free time I take care of it...it costs me little, I feel good about it....oh and did I mention I have gotten 6 jobs from it????

2 of those 6 in fact told me they were impressed with my 'community spirit'...tee hee.....bet they voted for Clinton/Gore....."takes a village" and all that nonsense...

But like Wolfpack said, we're all gonna need help somewhere down the line...most wise lessons in life I have learned from old people...so if I can help one out occasionally I will...but I wont make a habit of it...

[David Haggerty]

I try to keep personal matters separate from my business.
It's tough enough trying to maintain a professional business like image without "giving away the store".

Dave

[P&J Lawncare]

If I have a customer who has passed away them I always cut it one last time for free. This helps out the family in their time of need and it shows that we do care about our customers.

[Brickman]

I used to mow free for a church, it wasn't but every other month. They had two LCOs mowing and we traded months. I have never sent a bill to a pissed off customer. I figured the fight wasn't worth the money. But I don't try to go out and mow for free, but would consider every job on a case by case basis. With me having a rider that cuts out a ton of the broke old ladies, they couldn't afford a big house, and lawn to start with.
Now I have worked for a few single gals that they would have gotten away free if ....................................

[awm]

yes, i do some work that fits into that
category. dont mind as im in it for other reasons than just making money.
the catch is u cant help anybody unless
u stay in buisiness. so the money has to come in. free or low work for the needy is a judgement call for me.
ive got folks who want low priced work ,then later, they ask if i can do there 12 rental houses, also .NOT
then i have folks that pay for other folks mowing. takes all kinds .

[Big G]

BAMARED;

The saying "What goes around, comes around" is true. If you are in a position to help someone, do it. You hopefully know when you CAN and when you CANT. Anyone who demands to know why they can't have a reduced price should only be told "I do not discuss other clients situations, this is my policy." I would also tell the person who is receiving the reduced price not to share their deal with anyone else, doing so would jeopardize the deal.

;)

[Mowingman]

I mow our next-door neighbor's lawn for free, and have done so for several years since her husband passed away. She has M.S. and can barely get to and from her workplace, which is only a part time job. She always wants to pay, but I won't let her. I have been blessed with sucess in this business and I can afford to help someone out in need. I also mow a community daycare center that offers daycare to low income families. They pay for the mowing, but I donate a lot of other landscape maint. services to them at no cost. I don't see anything wrong in doing some free work for those in need, but I am very selective about who receives this free work.:)

[ceaman]

I occasionally mow my neighbors house free because I have been friends with him and his wife for years. He was diagnosed last fall with lukemia and has had a marrow transplant and chemotherapy for the past 8 months. The wife has went from housewife to working two jobs and raising thier 7 and 9 year olds. I have mowed them twice this year. The faimly mowed it twice.

[ADMowing]

This year, we've offered to take care of a "no kill" animal shelter in our area. They have large overhead with minimum income from donations. We offered as our "donation" to mow the lawn. We are waiting to hear from them.

We've done free or low priced work for struggling churches in the area and felt great about it. Doing good things for people when we have the capacity makes us feel good about ourselves....

We did such a good job at one church that we got two large neighborhood lawns and have had them for 1 1/2 years and counting. It is great advertising when you do good for others too! If we do something free for someone, we ask them to please not advertise that it was free and they respect that.

There is a couple in a mobile home park with a postage stamp lot where we mow for free occassionally. She has major medical problems and can't walk at all. He is working his tail off to make ends meet, get her back and forth to the doctor's and take care of the house. So, we help him out once in a while.

We believe that what goes around, comes around and we also have been majorly blessed because of good things we've done.

[mowerman90]

I won't say that I've never done any "charity" work because I have. More than once too. But down here in Central Florida all you here from people is that they're on a fixed income, etc., whine, whine , whine. Then, when they come out to say hello they tell you about how they just went on a cruise or just paid cash for their new Lincoln. It tends to make me rather suspicious. Plus, according to most on this forum, we in FL are doing charity work by charging our regular prices, LOL.

[proline32]

I used to do freebee work, I would of taken one person a year who couldn't afford to have thier yard mowed and mowed if for free, I did it every other week for a season. this year I stopped that, I took on this elderly woman that couldn't afford to have her yard mowed, I offered to mow and trim it for free every other week till the end of the season, I ask for nothing in return and that the woman PLEASE not let anybody know that I am doing this for free for her... It was a small yard and only took me 20 minutes for the basics. after about two months of this, this woman is calling me complaining about the service, saying I'm not mowing low enough, I'm missing all kind of spots and she wants me to mow an overgrown area that belongs to the city next to her yard.( Like hell I will). On top of that , she started telling all kinds of people about me and giving them my phone number, (mostly elderly people) and some of you know my policy on working for elderly people ( PITA). So these people call wanting service..... FREE SERVICE..... I inform them that regular mowing services start at $105.00 for small yards a month, these people have the nerve to get mad at me and tell me " well, your giving so and so mowing for free how come we have to pay? " We, as you can probably tell, I ended my charitable work shortly after that, I sent the elderly woman a letter that services have ended because she broke my rule about telling other people about me, and that for the quality of work she wanted she will need to pay for it, and that the city is responsible for the overgrown lot.

I will never work for free AGAIN.

[Bob Minney]

My reasons are a bit selfish. I know of a few people that can always use some help, so when I hit a stretch where I feel I've had more that my share of slow pays and pita's, I go do a freebie to help me keep my troubles in perspective.

[ADMowing]

I was trying to be positive about it above, but truth is that in the past we have periodically been abused this way. We cut our losses and ran quickly in those cases! But the people we do for free now really appreciate it and keep it quiet.

It is horrible how someone who gets free service feels they have the right to complain! Proline, it takes all kinds, doesn't it??? Makes me angry just hearing about it!!! We don't do a whole lot of free work and are careful who we do it for... after learning by some hard knocks too!

[Captain Calamity]

I've done several lawns for free at my own choosing. Seems whenever I do this sort of thing I get blessed with more work that offsets the time of the freebie. Another way of looking at a freebie could be the potential advertising you'd get from it.

[SLS]

I had a situation that was almost identical to proline32's. Old lady (fixed income) lived across the street for my grandparents. I too had to ditch her.

And some of the ones who are getting a major break on price can also be problems...by yammering to their friends about what a great deal they are getting...even when asked to "keep it under their hat". :mad:

I now lean toward the "community" aspect of this kind of work.

Personal's will have to be temporary (and close neighbors, friends, or friend of a friend types) who need a little help.

For the most part I'll stick with donations of money to my favorite charities.

[Big 12 Lawns]

I have seen some good remarks here. You go Wolfpacklawn! If I have the free time, and I notice someone who NEEDS help, I am going to help them with the gift that I have been given. My customers have first priority because I have a commitment to them, but after that... Things that have been provided for us should not be kept selfishly, but are meant to be a blessing for others. Big G gives good advice.

It is not what people think of me that I am concerned with. It is the name that I submit to that matters most. Do you really think that your business and your personal life can be kept seperate? What you do has to do with who you are and what you believe. Every decision a person makes at any time is made in submissiveness to some preconcieved notion or Truth and carries with it a message. What is your message?

"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory...All the nations will be gathered before Him; and he will seperate them from one another, as the shepherd seperates the sheep from the goats;and He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungrey, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' -- (Mattew 25: 31-40)

Keep reading if you want to find out what happens to the people on the left.

[f350]

i wouldn't do a deal like this for a homeowner but i have for a few animal shelters and a park clean up. it's free p.r. thats the best form of advertising. we hooked up with a youth club at the high schjool. when they have evenys like cleaning up senior yards we help out.

[darryl gesner]

My 80 year old aunt gets invoiced at 1/2 price and I mow my next door neighbors yard for free (so it looks good next to mine). Everyone else pays full price for mowing. In the winter, I do plow the street end of several peoples driveways for free as I'm driving by. All are friends and/or occasional plowing customers. I also have one $10 plow job for the widow of a friend of mine.

[Runner]

For all those of you who do volunteer work, or work in a charitable form, I commend you all. I do some volunteer work here and there, and hopefully this year will allow me to do some more. I like to participate in an annual effort we have called Operation Brushup. Basically what that is, is when volunteers converge onto a certain part of the city, a particular neighborhood, and paint and spruce up the area. I find this to be very rewarding. I have also done a few other efforts of this type. and posted on them. Here's an example of what can happen. http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=17140&highlight=park
Here's the "cemetary story"! :dizzy:
HERE'S an interesting story!
We did do an old cemetery once. There was an article in our local paper about it sating it was running out of funds, and the families were really upset about it's condition. When I decided to drive over one day I saw what they meant! Almost the whole place was waist deep! Trash in some areas, and fallen limbs and such. There were people in it trying to cut an area with pushmowers. When I talked to them I found out they were family members of the deceased, and they wre just cutting around those few plots. This was a cemetery that dated back from mid 1800's to mid 1900's. I couldn't let this be like this, so every afternoon or so, when I was done with my roster, I would go in and knock these vast areas out and mulch them up later after it dried. I moved section by section, and the beauty of it was, was that no one knew who was doing it! Here's the funny part. One evening, after work, as I was cutting in there, (toward the rear of the cemetary) I noticed a low spot around this one grave. The surface was real sandy, and I just simply told myself to steer clear of it, and wI can make it up with the trimmer later. No problem, right? Wrong! Even with steering clear, the ground started to give way, and in I slid! I was cutting with a Gravely (I know, how appropriate) Promaster 300 front deck rider, and when it sank into the grave, the deck went up, so it was wedged in. There was no rocking it out, so I looked around and found some branched and things to place under the wheels. No go. Well, at this time, it was starting to get dark now, it was SUPER hot and about 100% humidity, so by this time, I was soaked with sweat, and, I was a bit concerned about getting locked in there, as I, and my truck, were all the way at the back of this place. I thought I heard someone there, who I thought may have been locking the place up, so I sprinted down to the front, but to no avail, there was no one there. So, back up I went, and I knew what I had to do. The only way of getting that machine out of there, was to dig a ramp to drive out. So, I went to the truck and grabbed a shovel. I'm thinking to myself; Man, what could go more wrong now. Just then a clap of thunder cracked, and it just started POURing! I walked back to the grave, thinking thoughts like "watch the police pull through and see this guy at the top of the hill digging into a grave". When I reached the grave, I paused, said a quick prayer, and asked the Lord for forgiveness for what I was about to do and I dug in. after what SEEMED like an eternity of digging, I was able to free the Gravely from it's depths and drive it back to the trailer. As I looked back and saw the mess I had made of this site, I felt bad to leave it like that, but I knew I could be back tomorrow to fix it. It was either that, or a few minutes more, I may have all NIGHT to fix it! Eventually, after I told a few other guys I knew with services, (who I can now call friends), we all converged on this cemetery on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon, knocked it all out and had it all trimmed up and shining! Someone WANTed to call the media, but we preferred they didn't. They acknowledged our wishes. That was a wonderful experience being able to do for those families what we did. And Mike, Randy, Paul, and Tom, if you happen to read this- Thank you once again and God bless.

[pakmule]

After hearing her sob story, I used to deeply discount a divorced mother of 3. Feeling sorry for her having to make ends meet raising kids etc. She prepaid me to mow for 1 whole month while she went on vacation to Europe! I will be more careful next time I do charity work.

[proline32]

You gotta love those sob stories, right oakmule!;) I don't even acknowledge those any more, Hear them all the time and they just go in one ear and out the other while I'm writing up the estimate. I Just love the single mom story being told to me while she owns a $200,000.00 dollar house and a good paying job and a BMW 7 series parked in the garage next to the four door Dodge Dakota truck in the same color as the BMW. I can't even afford a new truck! Then this woman tells me that the previous LCO was a retired guy that she paid $35.00 per visit, he decided to qiut mowing, so she calls me....... I give her an estimate for $40.00 per visit and she looks at me like I'm crazy and informs me that she can't afford that. Go figure......

[hubb]

I know I guy who's wife is a minister at a local church and he has asked me to mow his property around the church. I haven't given him an answer yet because I don't want to charge to much because I like him and it's a pretty poor church. Not much to look at and I think they help the poor out alot in the little town that its in. What I was wondering is, has anyone done a church for free and then gotten a reciept of donation and then claimed it on there taxes? Please let me know because I would like to offer that to him if its legal.

[Big G]

Great Story Runner!

I know the slogan is "no good deed goes unpunished" but the reality really is "no good deed goes unrewarded"

You either have already be repaid tenfold or you will be, the beauty of it is, that's not why you did it.

Take care!

Big G

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Each year, I'll donate a few free mowings and gutter cleanings to silent auctions. One year, I donated a years worth of lawncare to my church's silent auction. The high bid was like $200. Last time I'll ever do that.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[FrankenScagMachines]

I don't do one for free yet but someday maybe if I run into that kind of situation maybe I will. We have some next door neighbors who are 87 and 89 years old (old couple) and are the nicest people. They have about a 1/2 acre or so of lawn that gets cut regularly and I do it for $20 weekly cut trim every other week. They have about a acre or so to bushhog I do it every 3 or 4 weeks with a garden tractor for $30 (big discount I think?) , which isn't near enough but I don't think they could afford it to be done for more and I can't let it go any longer than that or I would be losing money on it because of the extra time it would take. I do that to be nice and they just love me like a grandson. If they need something small done like driving in a tomato cage or two or fixing a clamp on a garden hose, or something like that, they will call me and I like that really. It makes you feel good to do something to help someone if they appreciate it. If someone complains then it's no good. I have seen instances of both kinds where one person is demanding and another is a divorced mom w/3 kids and w/o a job and will never ask for anything but if you do she is so nice and oh thank you about it. She is a pleasure to deal with! Not lawn service but other things. Her kids mow her lawn but they are looking for a mower now so maybe I'll end up doing it once this year. I tell my elderly neighbor when she says "well I hate to ask you to do this.." I say " well I think that we were put next door for a reason- for the younger people to help the older ones" and she just smiles. It's good to help people if they are nice and appreciative about it but it will ruin my whole week if someone is demanding about free favors.
Eric :blob4:

[bruces]

Originally posted by hubb
I know I guy who's wife is a minister at a local church and he has asked me to mow his property around the church. I haven't given him an answer yet because I don't want to charge to much because I like him and it's a pretty poor church. Not much to look at and I think they help the poor out alot in the little town that its in. What I was wondering is, has anyone done a church for free and then gotten a reciept of donation and then claimed it on there taxes? Please let me know because I would like to offer that to him if its legal.

That doesn't work. You are trying to deduct something that cost you nothing.

That is like taking a deduction for income that you lost the day it didn't work because it rained.

You will still get the write off for your operating costs for the job, but generally, if something is no cost to you, it is no deduction for tax purposes.

The only way this would work (and you wind up a loser anyway) is if you pick up the income for the value of the job and then turn around and take a charitable deduction for the amount.

The problem here is that you have to pay self employment tax on the income and get an itemized deduction for the contribution (if you itemize).

Either charge for the job or just do it and don't worry about the tax deduction.

[ADMowing]

These stories are great! Runner -- I REALLY like the graveyard story!

We told you about a couple we mow for free -- he does everything because she is sick. Well, he got a wonderful new job driving a bus and employer works around his schedule -- taking his wife to the doctor and stuff. Now he has insurance and all is working out for him and his wife. I went over there to do their free mow and he comes running (limping) out the door waving a check. I said "No, I'm just doing the normal mow and go. I thought he felt guilty and I didn't want him to."

He says, "No, I can afford to pay you now and I want to. You've been so good to us and God has blessed us. I want to pass on the blessings to you and you deserve it!!!" The lady has been waiting for years for a kidney transplant and is finally going to be able to have it. Not a sob story, we know them very well.

After just posting the other day about this couple, I get goosebumps about this happening to us today. It is true, as so many have said, "what goes around, comes around" and "because we choose to do good for people, we do reap the rewards!"

Just had to tell you about this! Made our day!!!

[Ground Master]

Over the years did a few lawns for a reduced rate, but the thing is some will apprecitate it while at least half are big time complainers.

The only yard I do for free is my Moms.

Its the same old story, people wanting and expecting you to bow for them.........

[TFL]

i have one. used to mow their business and home. husband died of heartattack and wife has cancer family ask me to keep yard and send them the bill but they haven't seen a bill yet. i figure its all i can do for their loyalty. i do just the house takes around 15 minutes.

[LawnLad]

Freebie work....? Sure, sometimes we'll do it. There are some jobs that you do for free that are more marketing than anything else. Some are due to empathy. A customer's husband recently passed away - the week he passed, she came out and told the crew that she didn't know if she was going to have to cancel. We sent flowers and the crew to the house - with instructions that if she came back out to let us know that she had to cancel due to cost, that she need not worry about it at this time and that she can call us off later - and only pay what she feels she can a month or 6 weeks down the road when her life is back in order. And if that's nothing, than that's fine too. I hate to see a thirty something with children become a widow due to unfortunate circumstances.

A couple of years ago we cut the grass for widow who's husband was a police officer. Killed off duty by lightening. She sold the house in that fall. She couldn't keep up with the lawn. No big deal for us.

Charity...? We do not offer senior discounts. We do not give coupons. We do not arbitrarily lower prices or give things away. However, I will do free work if it moves me and there is a person in need.

[UGA]

got on my Surfer it was very easy for me to mow several of my employees yard occasionally when their mowers are in the shop. Seeing especially since I picked up doing our office for way more than it's worth. Even after telling my boss he was paying me too much he insisted I just keep it looking nice and continue to help out others when the time comes. I don't mind at all. I also cut my mother inlaw for free but don't think anything of it since she will always be the first person my wife and I will call for babysitting when our newborn arrives.
I don't believe in being taken advantage of....I will make decisions on a case by case basis always but I agree it makes you feel better about life when every single thing you do doesn't have to be paid for. I would love to work out some more deals where we barter one anothers services with no money exchanging. Goes straight to the bottom line for all involved.

[rdln]

Excuse me while I dry my eyes....I responded to a volunteer call for a local elementary school whose students raised money for new playground equipment through bake sales and what not. Hauled 200 yards of the special triple ground chips for underneath equipment and also seeded berms that were created from excavation spoils. Took all of a day...big deal.

Also seeded a Habitat for Humanity house but felt I was not appreciated. For instance I asked them to tell me when they were ready, came out on that day only to find that I have to avoid next to house because the gutters were being put on. Also about 10am I see a bunch of cars pull in and people are climbing out with suits and dresses on:confused: they start gathering on the vacant lot next door and turns out they are blessing a groundbreaking for another H4H house and here I am purring away on my diesel until somebody walks over and asks me if I could stop for awhile, of course I do and take an early lunch. Last one of those I do.

I also mowed and B'hogged my girlfriend's (now wife) grandmother's yard and field but was told to charge full price because she could afford it. When done I would come in to get paid and she would have a pot of coffee on (old aluminum perculator) and I felt obliged to have a cup even though its 90Degrees out, now that a sacrifice to make an old lady happy.

[Aaron Klemme]

I've done things for free. I've mowed areas such as parks or large city clean ups. Now ask me why. W'el l I know you guys all say I need to make the money. I agree. I don't care for doing these things but It ended up helping me alot. I sent 3 crews out with trucks and trailor to do trash p/u for the city. I got lucky with this, but Channel 5 and 4 were onsite while three of my trucks and trailors were pulling into waste management with entire trailors of trash. We were congrtulated and you won't believe the amount of doors that this threw open. Now I got lucky but If you don't do It you have NO chance of getting benifits such as these.

[Aaron Klemme]

To add to that ( computer troubles) I don't do charity for expected payoffs. I got lucky doing somthing that makes me feel good. What comes around goes around. You take care of others in need and somehow or another , you may not see it, but someday it will be someone else giving oyu a helping hand. AND DON'T FOGET THAT.

[Big 12 Lawns]

:)you Guys are an encouraging bunch!

[rdln]

"Prepare your work outside
and make it ready for yourself
in the field; afterwards, then,
build your house." (Provrbs 24:27)

Ron, I think I know the face value meaning of that verse, but can you give a complete explanation of it? thanks, steve

[maple city]

I was doing a mow job when the elderly neighbor came out and asked me for a quote on her lawn. I told her the price and she said that her husband had just passed away and she wasn't sure what her money situation was going to be, so she had better not have us do the job. I went ahead and did the job for her for free that day. I knocked when I was done and gave her a card.

She has had us back many times since to do paid jobs. She had to get herself straightened out financially and I was understanding. I gained a customer from that little bit of free work.

Not only that, but she has told other people about us as well. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

[musselman]

Ive done several yards for free when asked by my church to help out. The church always asked what they owe me and I always tell then not a thing happy to do it. I always aerate my mom and dads house for free to, id mow but mom still likes to do that herself. Funny story about my dad helping one of my moms friends out, he was welding on a broken chair she had, she complained about his work and told her he was sorry and told her he would give her her money back...shut her right up.

[Big 12 Lawns]

"Prepare your work outside
and make it ready for yourself
in the field; afterwards, then,
build your house." (Provrbs 24:27)

Ron, I think I know the face value meaning of that verse, but can you give a complete explanation of it? thanks, steve

Hey Steve, thanks for asking. I like this verse, not only because it is a clever quote for the lawnsite forum, but it is a good verse to review in my head at this point in my life.

My John Macarthur Study Bible explains it better than I can. He says, "First, secure by diligent work and planning a good living in your fields, then build. In other words, provide a financial base so that all the necessities and contingencies are secured, then move from the tents (which were acceptable) to a house (which was desirable)."

That is the wisdom behind it. It is applicable in my life because I am basically building this business in order to pay off my very high student loans, truck, and now new lawn mower so that I will be free to go overseas and work with students in Asia teaching them English and telling them the Good News about Jesus. I would love to go now, but it is best to first get rid of my debt and establish a business that can be left in another's hands that will still provide a little financial support for myself across the Pacific. Also, this verse reminds me not to be a sluggard in my work nor to waist my time on worthless pursuits, but to focus on my what is most important. It helps me to keep things in perspective and to not put the cart before the horse.

"It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke while he is in his youth." (Lamentation 3:27)

I hope that helps. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.

Ron