When we first started farming here years ago, I didn’t have many tools. Since I was very short on money, I ended up buying tools through a mail-order catalog. They were the cheapest tools I could find, and yes, they were made in China. The saying “You get what you pay for” was most certainly true in that case.

I bought a good-sized electric drill that worked fine until I got to a difficult job with it. A few minutes into the job, it started to put out blue smoke. I also had bought a large 3/4-inch socket set. I used it a number of times on some really tough jobs. It wasn’t long before the ratchet wasn’t working like it should. After these instances, I quit buying tools through these catalog companies. I started buying tools that were either American-made or had lifetime guarantees on them.

My kids learned from my mistakes, and they only buy tools like I do today. A couple years ago, Joshua wanted to buy a nice 3/4-inch socket set to use on the farm since my China set wasn’t working very well, to say the least. I told him right out, “You can buy a set, but be sure and buy one that has a lifetime guarantee on it and not a poor-quality set like I did.” His response was, “I know Dad, I don’t want a set like you have.” At least my kids learn from my mistakes.

Joshua knew exactly what brand he wanted, and of course it had a lifetime guarantee on it. I told him to wait to buy it until it went on sale. That can be hard for a young man who really likes tools and likes to use them to fix things. Finally, after a few months, it came on sale for $50 off. Joshua couldn’t buy that bright shiny socket set fast enough.

Since that day, my large socket set has never gotten used.

We’ve used his set a number of times on some really tough jobs in the last couple of years. It’s a very nice set, but from day one his ratchet wasn’t quite perfect. It didn’t always want to reverse direction easily like it should. It wasn’t hard to do, so I told him I didn’t think the manufacturer would replace it since it did work. Joshua was fine with it, but there was definitely something not quite right in it.

This spring, we needed to set the wheels out on two of our tractors. The wheels had not been moved in many years, so the big bolts did not loosen up easily. That’s where Joshua’s large socket set came into play. We really worked hard with his ratchet to get them, and halfway through the job, his ratchet broke inside and locked up solid. I turned to him and said, “This is why you bought one with a lifetime guarantee.” As he looked it over, he replied, “I’m sure glad I did.”

We took it back to the store that very same day, and they looked it over and immediately gave us a replacement one that actually is a couple inches longer than the old one. We put it to work right away finishing up the job on our tractors. It works perfectly and Joshua clearly sees that it pays to pay a little more money and get quality tools with a lifetime guarantee.

I’m so glad God in His word gives us so many “lifetime guarantees.” For those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He also promises us eternal life, which is far better than what we have now. It’s forever. How is that for a lifetime guarantee?

Tools may break and the companies behind them may go out of business, but God stands forever, and His word will never be broken. That’s an absolute guarantee I base my whole life on. And this I know: God will never let me down.