Don’t Be a Chumlee

“Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will serve before kings; he will not

serve before obscure men.” (Pro 22:29).

Don’t be a Chumlee

The popular cable show “Pawn Stars” is about a pawn shop in Las Vegas, NV. It is fun to see what unusual item people are going to try to sell. The show starts off by saying, “You never know what is going to walk through the door.” If you watch the show you will agree.

One of the most enjoyable things about the show is watching the antics of one worker named “Chumlee.” The boss gives him assignments and then waits to see just how he is going to mess up. Chumlee has the best of intentions but he always messes up. The mess up is always something that really does not cost Chumlee anything, but costs those around him. In one recent episode they gave him a 40-year-old album of the singer Bob Dylan. They asked him to track down Bob Dylan and get him to autograph the album.

Chumlee tracked down Bob Dylan and as Bob Dylan was signing the cover, Dylan asked what he wanted it to say. Without thinking Chumlee said, “To Chumlee.” Chumlee’s boss was not pleased.

My son and I now refer to Chumlee as a type of person. A Chumlee gets things right some of the time, but has a high rate of mess ups. He doesn’t mean to mess up. It just happens!

A Chumlee character starts showing itself early in life. When in school the teacher would give an assignment and a Chumlee would do enough to pass the assignment, but will not go the extra mile to turn a “C” grade into an “A” or even a “B.” Chumlee is the one whose dog ate his homework. Poor Chumlee.

To be a Chumlee is a choice. We choose to be a Chumlee every time we chose to do less than our best or to accept just enough to get by without going the extra mile needed for excellence. The reason some make this choice is because they think it is just one little decision. In the end one little decision add up to a character – a character of being a Chumlee. Don’t be a Chumlee. Do you best every time. As the wise man wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Lonnie Davis

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