The following are real advertisements designed to draw attention:
- Illiterate? Write us today, we can help.
- Auto repair service. Have your car repaired with us just once and you won’t go anywhere else.
- Man wanted for work in a dynamite plant. Must enjoy travel.
- Lunch special – Turkey, $7.95; Chicken/Beef, $6.95; children, $3.
These ads bring up an interesting point – those who wrote them didn’t really mean to say what the ads implied. They tried to promote a product for sale but this wasn’t what necessarily happened.
Do you realize that we’re all advertising salespeople? Whether we’re young or old, rich or poor, educated or not, we’re all in the business of advertising! The moment we leave the church building we begin to advertise the way Jesus is working in our lives. The problem, however, is that our publicity doesn’t always reflect what we’re trying to promote.
Do your actions demonstrate that Jesus is in your life? Are your words those of a Christian? Do you realize that in every situation of your life you are advertising something? Now, a final question; “Do people want to buy your product?”
In speaking to Timothy concerning the pressure that this young man was experiencing in preaching and teaching, Paul said,
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” I Tim. 4:12
Listen to what Paul says and do the same. Examine your advertising techniques and be sure that your publicity actually reflects the message you are trying to promote.