The Band-Aid was invented in 1920. Frustrated that his wife Josephine frequently cut and burned herself while cooking in their Highland Park, New Jersey home, Earle Dickson designed a prototype that allowed her to dress her wounds without assistance. Startled by the amazing results, Dickson passed the idea on to his employer. Johnson & Johnson went on to produce and market the innovation as the Band-Aid. Meanwhile, Dickson rose through the ranks, eventually retiring as a vice-president of the company in 1957.

The word "Band" in German means tape. Interestingly, the original Band-Aids were handmade and were not very popular. By 1924, Johnson & Johnson introduced machine-made Band-Aids and began the sale of sterilized Band-Aids in 1939. In 1951, the first decorative Band-Aids were introduced. They continue to be a commercial success, with such themes as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Oliver & Jenny, Superman, Spider-Man, Rocket Power, Rugrats, smiley faces, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Batman and Duck Dynasty. In World War II, millions were shipped overseas, helping popularize the product. Since then, Johnson & Johnson has sold more than 100 billion Band-Aids worldwide and generates $168 million in annual sales.

A Band Aid is designed to be a short-term, superficial solution to a minor problem. It is not designed to solve major problems. However, that certainly does not stop us from trying to use them to do so. All of us have gigantic cracks in some area of our lives that we are trying to cover with a band-aid. Unfortunately, a band aid is not just a product that you can buy in stores. It is also a philosophy that continues to inject poison into our families, our finances, and our faith.

Although the band aid as a product was not designed until the 20th century, the band-aid approach to life has an ancient and distinguished pedigree. A notable example of it is found in Acts 3:1-11, which finds two of Jesus’ disciples en route to the temple to pray. The scriptures inform us that

At the same time, there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

I have always been struck by the man’s request. Had Peter and John granted his request, he would only been a rich cripple! Had Peter and John acquiesced to his demands, he would have only been a wealthy invalid! Had Peter and John granted his wishes, he would have only been a handicapped millionaire! Fortunately, God used Peter and John to give the man “exceeding abundantly above” what he requested.

For whatever reasons, the man no longer believed that physical healing was even a possibility. Consequently, he “downgraded” his ask to accommodate his vision of what was possible. His real problem was that he could not walk, and had never walked. Had he been able to walk, it would significantly reduced or perhaps even eliminated his need to beg. But minus that level of faith and absent that broader view, he settled for a band-aid.

Here’s today’s question: in what areas of your life are you settling for a band-aid?

What short-term superficial solutions have you or are you attempting to apply to the cracks in your life? God is able and willing to provide a more radical and permanent solution to those issues in our lives that may even be as old as we are. Stop bringing God down to the level of your problem. Bring your problem up to the level of your God!