May 4, 2026

Business by the Book

Matthew 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

A man ran into the back of my daughter’s car about twenty years ago. It was not a bad wreck just a bent bumper. They exchanged information; the man took full responsibility, and promised to replace her bumper. After a couple of days I called him with several estimates; we discussed them and decided to use a certain body shop in Fort Worth. The cost of the repair was only $500, the man seemed sincere and I figured, even if he doesn’t pay for the repair it needed to be completed, so it was fixed.

A week passed and no check was received from the man although he had promised to mail it the day we spoke on the phone. Two weeks passed no check yet. I called him again; he was polite and apologized profusely. He promised to mail the check again. Nope, didn’t receive that check either. I called the third time about a month after the accident, left a message, and he returned my call at about 10:30 on a Thursday night. He wanted to come to my house at that time and deliver the check in person. I said no, just mail it. Never did see that check either and never talked to him again.

I don’t know if it was a scam, if he was simply forgetful, if he had no money, or if he ever actually intended on paying for his accident, but I do know this, he wasn’t right. He was a business owner and about a year later I ran across his business card. For fun I googled his business and could find no current business by the name on his card.

Not for a second do I think that this man lost his business because he cheated my daughter and me. However, if this man’s business style was demonstrated by the way he handled the accident I can see why he is no longer in business. Doing right is its own reward. A friend of mine has a phrase he uses on people who do not pay him for the work he does. “If you can live with it, I can live without it.”  If the man who ran into my daughter’s car can live with robbing us of $500 we can live without it. It will not hurt us, but the lack of character to do what is just, fair, and right will cost him enormously.

I once heard about a Bible College of yesteryear that had a one page handbook for student behavior. In fact the rules didn’t even take up the entire page. Only two words were needed to cover all the rules of the college. What were those two words? “Do right.” It’s really just that simple. Develop the testimony for doing right by people. It’s a habit that will pay untold dividends over years and years to come.

Dr. William Howe