The “Mama Test”

Aaron's is a highly successful company that rents furniture, televisions, computers, and even appliances. Because of the nature of their business, Aaron's often deals with lower-income clients who don't have a pristine credit rating. To remain profitable with such a clientele, the company must carefully distinguish between good prospects and deadbeats. One of the ways Aaron's evaluates the trustworthiness of applicants is by employing what they call the "Mama Test." When a customer applies to rent something, the store manager will ask them for three different personal references. Their preferred reference? Mom.

David Epright, an Aaron's regional manager, explains: "Nine times out of 10 a mother will tell you the truth. I had a mother tell me her son just got out of jail and didn't have a job yet." (That applicant was turned down.)

That makes sense to me. From the very beginning of life, mothers experience a fierce maternal instinct to protect their babies and to promote their well-being. No responsible mother willingly allows her child to get in financial or moral trouble. Solomon recognized this quality of mothers, and promoted his own version of the "Mama Test," with the following proverbs: "May your father and your mother be glad, may she who gave you birth rejoice" (Proverbs 23:25).

"A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother" (Proverbs 10:1).

"My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother" (Proverbs 1:8). So, when faced with a decision to engage in some questionable activity, here are some questions that will help us apply the "Mama Test":

• Does this action run counter to the good advice my mother has given me in the past?

• Would she be ashamed to discover that I had taken this step?

• Could this behavior lead to personal consequences that would break my mama's heart?

If the answer to any of those questions is "Yes," then we would do well to avoid that action! God's Word is our ultimate guide, of course, but Solomon reminds us that the "Mama Test" provides a good rule of thumb.

–Dan Williams