Back in 2008, in preparation for our very first service, there were lots and lots of purchases to make. I was crippled by how many choices I had. For example, not only were there a hundred different kinds of speakers to choose from, but each brand then had about ten different tiers of speakers. I shared this problem with a pastor named Dave Highlander and he shared with me this purchasing principle: Quality, not extravagance. I found this so helpful!
- I would go to Guitar Center (or wherever) and say “I need a piano. I don’t need the best of the best, nor do I want the worst of the worst. I want quality, but not extravagance. What would you recommend?”
- I would go the ATC Audio and say “I need some speakers. I don’t need the best of the best, nor do I want the worst of the worst. I want quality, but not extravagance. What would you recommend?”
- I would go to the Apple store and say “I need a computer. I don’t need the best of the best, nor do I want the worst of the worst. I want quality, but not extravagance. What would you recommend?”
I could go on but I think you get the idea. Generally speaking, getting the best of the best is to needlessly overpay. And getting the worst of the worst means you’ll needlessly pay twice when what you buy inevitably breaks. But it has served me very well to think “quality, not extravagance” when making a purchase.
When the church is small you might be leaning closer to the worst of the worst than the best of the best. That’s ok. As you grow you’ll be leaning closer to the best of the best than the worst of the worst. But no matter where you are, try to stay away from these two extremes. Again, think quality, not extravagance. It’s guided me well and I think it will you too.