We live in a society where we have access to an abundance of material goods, made overseas and shipped here in massive container ships, then sold in warehouse-style stores at low, low prices. It didn’t used to be that way. It used to be that we had much more limited access to things, and those things might also have been made with higher-quality materials, so they would also cost more. The trade-off was that they tended to last longer as well. Because things cost less now, and are so readily available, we almost accept that they are disposable. But at least we got them fast, and they didn’t cost too much!
This has definitely crept into our larger, cultural conscience. We want things fast, and we want them cheap, but we forget that cheap is rarely a good long-term strategy. In fact, for certain things, it can be a very poor short-term strategy as well. The cheapest is often the cheapest for a reason, and unless you do your homework and understand the real reasons why one contractor can install your new HVAC system for half the cost of the next bidder, you may find yourself sweltering when the temperature outside hits 95 and your heat is still on in your home. It is easy to be the cheapest bidder when you are using sub-standard materials and untrained labor, while the competition has put in their bids with equipment that will perform under pressure and labor who knows how to do the job right.
In fact, there are a few verses in the Bible, from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, that speaks to the quality of materials that builders will use and their craftmanship. Of those builders, Paul writes: “their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work” (1 Cor 3:13). Paul wasn’t interested in cheap – he knew that builders would be held accountable by God for their work, so they had better build with both skill and quality.
I have to wonder if our local government machinery has gotten too focused on cheap and easy, and lost sight of the importance of skill and quality when it comes to our ferry service. We all want the government to steward our hard-earned money well, and that should include a desire to keep costs down. However, stewardship requires knowing if the lowest bid is still able to get the job done in a quality manner that will withstand the demands that are easily anticipated for a public transportation system. There is no doubt that the current operator is the cheapest bidder, but we have very little confidence that, when inspected by the light of Day and tested by the fire of a full load of residents and tourists with groceries and luggage, that the workmanship will be found acceptable. I dare not speak for God on this issue, but I promise that us taxpayers have already found this service lacking.
Unfortunately, the only way to fix the problems created by the cheapest bidder is to switch bidders and pay more. That requires admitting a mistake, and the faster that happens, the less damage is done, and the less expensive it is to repair. Let us hope and pray that those in positions of authority will understand that they missed on this effort, and that they need to make the necessary adjustments quickly.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron