The Nag Factor
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV Cycle C
Alex, nine, is just one kid among millions who make up the demographic group aged four to twelve, a group that has spending power to the tune of $40 billion annually.
Forty billion dollars. By the year 2006, the amount is projected to be $52 billion. My question is: How do kids get this kind of money? The answer involves the nag factor.
Alex knows what he wants -- whether it's a new video game or some new Pokémon cards. And when he "really, really, really" wants it, he is willing to ask his parents for it about "150 times." That may be an exaggeration, but according to a survey released by the Center for a New American Dream, most kids keep their nagging down to a mere nine times. More than half the kids say that they can usually get their parents to give in.
Alex's dad, Chris, getting wise to the strategy, has instituted a new "Ask once -- and only once" policy, which at this time has met with limited success. Chris freely admits that this is partly his fault. Every time he gives in to the nag factor, the policy is that much harder to reinstate.
Chris is much like the judge mentioned by Jesus -- a judge with whom it's not hard to have some sympathy. Here's a guy who's been set upon by a woman who has been treated unfairly, and she insists on having her day in court. Desperate for justice, she resorts -- successfully -- to the nag factor.
What works for me in this passage is the implication that God is not like the judge, or Chris, who has to be nagged into action. "And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them" (v. 7). The operative word here is "quickly." It's not like God has an "Ask once -- and only once" policy, but it's close.
Back up a few chapters in the Gospel of Luke, and you'll find a similar story. This time Jesus tells the story of a man who is awakened -- repeatedly -- in the dark of night by a neighbor who needs some bread for late-arriving guests. The man gives in just to get rid of the guy. But, Jesus adds, when we pray, we have but to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
No nag factor here.
Forty billion dollars. By the year 2006, the amount is projected to be $52 billion. My question is: How do kids get this kind of money? The answer involves the nag factor.
Alex knows what he wants -- whether it's a new video game or some new Pokémon cards. And when he "really, really, really" wants it, he is willing to ask his parents for it about "150 times." That may be an exaggeration, but according to a survey released by the Center for a New American Dream, most kids keep their nagging down to a mere nine times. More than half the kids say that they can usually get their parents to give in.
Alex's dad, Chris, getting wise to the strategy, has instituted a new "Ask once -- and only once" policy, which at this time has met with limited success. Chris freely admits that this is partly his fault. Every time he gives in to the nag factor, the policy is that much harder to reinstate.
Chris is much like the judge mentioned by Jesus -- a judge with whom it's not hard to have some sympathy. Here's a guy who's been set upon by a woman who has been treated unfairly, and she insists on having her day in court. Desperate for justice, she resorts -- successfully -- to the nag factor.
What works for me in this passage is the implication that God is not like the judge, or Chris, who has to be nagged into action. "And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them" (v. 7). The operative word here is "quickly." It's not like God has an "Ask once -- and only once" policy, but it's close.
Back up a few chapters in the Gospel of Luke, and you'll find a similar story. This time Jesus tells the story of a man who is awakened -- repeatedly -- in the dark of night by a neighbor who needs some bread for late-arriving guests. The man gives in just to get rid of the guy. But, Jesus adds, when we pray, we have but to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
No nag factor here.
