Lesson Of The Sweaters

It’s just like the sweater on the table, my mother often said to me, making a point.
She used this example to teach me a lesson about human nature.
It was her go-to statement based on her experience.
It had to do with Gimbels department store and a display of sweaters.

My mother was one of three sisters.
She was the middle sister.
Her youngest sister, the aunt I took care of, was a career woman.
As a career woman, her style and clothes were impeccable.

My mother on the other hand was very simple.
She always looked nice and she always looked for bargains.
I could never tell the difference between their outfits.
It’s all in the presentation, my mother would say.

I loved going shopping with my mother.
We often went to Gimbels.
On one of our shopping excursions, there was a crowd around one of the display tables.
Women were clamoring for sweaters that were placed there.

See that? My mother said, the women don’t even know what is on that table.
But they are searching for it, Mom.
They are looking for the bargain and they don’t care what it is; they just want it.
Look over there, she said pointing.

On another table more sweaters were displayed.
There was no SALE sign above those sweaters.
No one was clamoring to find their size around this table.
We’ll look over there, my mother said decisively.

We looked leisurely at the sweaters on the other table.
She found what she needed.
She picked it up and we went to another department.
Why did you do that, Mom?

Sometimes people want something just because they see other people wanting it.
Everyone had to have those sweaters because of the crowd around the table.
It didn’t matter that the sweater I am buying is equally lovely and the same price.
It’s supply and demand.

Supply and demand is a basic concept of economics.
Supply is how much of something is available.
Demand is how much of something people want.
There were many sweaters available on the table and women desperately wanted them.

No one wanted the sweater on the table where we were looking, she explained.
Even though it was exactly the same thing, women wanted what everyone else had.
Same with people.
People always clamor to those that have other people around them.

I guess I looked confused.
It isn’t right.
Often the people over in the corner are far more interesting.
I knew I had just gotten a life lesson and never realized how important it really was.

I saw that principle played out in life.
The popular crowd always had others clamoring around them.
I tended to be friends with the person over there.
The lesson of the sweaters has served me well over the years.

My youngest daughter and I went to a warehouse sale of a particular designer.
A designer known for her bright colors and whimsical patterns.
We drove about forty minutes to get to the sale that was going on for three days.
We parked and walked towards the entrance.

We saw a line of people that wrapped around the building and out into the parking lot.
We saw a worker sitting on the curb having her lunch.
Is that the line? I asked unbelievably.
Yes. It’s been like that since 6:30 this morning; they only let a few in at a time.

Another shopper with a bag walked towards us.
It’s a four hour wait to get it in, she said.
I’ve been here since it opened and I just finished.
My daughter and I looked at each other and in unison said, No way!

We walked back to our car with a father and daughter who had already shopped.
It’s a mad house in there, she admitted.
Women are pulling at all the items and elbowing people out of the way.
They are even following the racks of new merchandise around so they get to it first.

The lesson of the sweaters.
The prices aren’t even all that great, the father admitted.
But you just get lost in there.
Lost indeed in the maze of supply and demand.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

Paul wanted to supply what was lacking in the faith of the Thessalonians.
He had the supply; they had the demand.
He had the Gospel and they had the desire to know it more fully and accurately.
He wanted people to clamor around those that were saved.

In all that clamoring, others would want what they had.
Others would want to know the Lord Jesus that they knew.
The lesson of the sweaters in action.
Faith made so desirable that others just have to have it, too.

How desirable is your faith in the Lord Jesus?
If He is your all in all, you can’t help but tell others about Him.
If He is your Lord, you live and act differently.
People notice the difference.

It is the lesson of the sweaters as it pertains to the Gospel.
Supplying what others lack.
Only God generates faith; however we who are in Christ should be joyful.
We should have an abundant supply of the Gospel ready for their demand.

There is a demand.
Do you have the supply?
Are you ready for the onslaught of hungry people?
The lesson of the sweaters applies.