How are Your Negotiating Skills?
I like to think that I’ve learned the art of negotiating quite well – especially in Mexico. I can haggle with the best of them. Store owner says: “Twenty dollars”. I say: “Twelve dollars”. He says: “Best price – Eighteen dollars!” I start to walk away, and he says: “For you, “Fifteen dollars”! I say: “SOLD!”
Okay, maybe I am not that good at negotiating because that fifteen dollars is probably still higher than the merchant had already set in his mind. That item was already set in his books, planned from the beginning.
Bartering isn’t usually practiced where I live so I accept the asking price. But, when I sold my home, you better believe there was plenty of negotiating until Buyer AND Seller agreed with the final offer and contract. The same thing with my car – we haggled, did the walk away and then the salesman came running after us with his best deal!
Asking for better prices (like on a car, 4-wheeler, truck or RV – my family are pros at those) is part of negotiating. It is expected at car dealerships, builders, and other retail outlets. Did you know that “asking” is rewarded in scripture? We must ask for it. “For everyone who ASKS receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10)
Asking aka negotiating and schmoozing (the wining and dining technique) seem to be a part of doing life. I witnessed the schmoozing part when we were being offered “a good deal” on a time-share property. Three days and two nights of elite treatment. We knew the ASK was coming. It came and we did the walk-away!
There are many “negotiating” practices in scripture. In Genesis 18, we find Abraham haggling with God for the safety of the innocent in Sodom. He starts high and works his way down, while seemingly schmoozing God along the way. It’s almost arrogant and yet each time Abraham asks God to lower the amount, He does. Initially, that passage might look like God is indecisive and is willing to negotiate with us. Like, “you do this, and I’ll do that”! Oh, but contraire. That’s not how God works.
What if the story is instead meant to convey God’s vast love for His people? God’s omnipotence means He ALREADY KNEW the fate of Sodom and yet we find Him repetitively affirming Abraham’s requests to love the people. “Would you spare 50? 45? 40? 30? 20? 10?” And each time, God responds “yes” to Abraham, and each response grows in tenderness. “For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it” (Genesis 18:32).
Those answers do not speak to Abraham’s negotiating abilities but rather to the immense love of the Father Who I imagine would continue to answer in the same way even if Abraham’s numbers dwindled down to the question of merely one. “What if there is only one person?” Or, “What if it’s only me, Lord?”
Here’s what I’ve come to know. God is so relentless in His love for us that He even answers us when we’re attempting to “Let’s make a deal, God!” It may seem like He goes silent on us during those times, but NOT SO! He gently and tenderly speaks to us in His way and His timing: “My precious one, My ways are so much higher than your ways. But, to answer your question: ‘YES, but not today’ or ‘YES, but not there’ or ‘YES, but I have something better in mind. Trust ME! It will ALL turn out for your good!’”
In short, God doesn’t want to negotiate because He thinks we have something better to offer Him. He doesn’t want to bargain because He has something better to offer us!
“Be still…..AND know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10