Daily Stop & Thinks

The Future

To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says: “Leave no stone unturned.” (Edward Bulwer Lytton, 19^th century English politician)

When it’s difficult to think and plan ahead, it’s so easy just to give up and let things happen as life goes on without our intentional involvement. But Lytton’s counsel is well taken. The more carefully and fully we investigate the possible obstacles and hurdles, the better able we will be to strategize and help determine our future.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Value

When everything is free, nothing has value. (Ben Stein, economic commentator)

One certain way to get attention, perhaps to introduce a new product, is to emphasize “FREE” in your advertising. Many of us use certain software, not because it may be the best on the market, but because it’s FREE. The strings that are often attached to such offers can become very expensive. As economist Milton Friedman wrote, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”

We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. . . Those unwilling to work will not get to eat. . . settle down and work to earn their own living (2 Thessalonians 3:8, 10, 12).

Memory

Nothing is new, it is just forgotten (Marie Antoinette, 18^th century and last queen of France)

The older we become, the more we battle with memory loss. But for many people, it may be that they just don’t want to remember some things from the past. At other times we claim we never knew one thing or another when we’ve just forgotten—intentionally or not. Sometimes we might think we’ve discovered something new, but that’s rarely true.

There is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

The Good Life

The good life is not found in luxury; rather it is found in a life that enriches the life of another human. (Jeff Shinabager, financial author)

In the bustle of modern life, so many people seem to be busy, running here and there either to gain popularity or advance in business. Socrates advised, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” The work to achieve “The Good Life” may prove futile if we do not understand what the goal should be. Shinabager’s counsel truly sets the proper goal and purpose for your life.

Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies (1 Peter 4:11).

Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:25).

Training

At the moment of truth, you will not rise to the level of expectation, but will fall to the level of training. (Classroom banner)

We are often disappointed when something or someone fails to achieve the heights we had anticipated. Expectations are often much higher than they ought to be because we think too much of an individual or an idea that hasn’t been fully tested. The classroom banner is a great reminder of  the necessity of training and an incentive to seek it before performing.

Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher (Luke 6:40).

Influence

Leaders change the world around them. (Todd Henry, motivational speaker)

Probably everybody thinks at one time or another that they’d like to change the world. They have a clever idea or a new slant on things that would dramatically change life for the good of everyone else. Very likely Henry’s view is that you have to begin with “the world” nearest you. First, consider how you can positively influence those right around you.

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Choices II

We do what we do with others because of the way we think. (Charles Swindoll, pastor & author)

Swindoll continues, “Our attitude, therefore, is crucial . . .  We have full control of which attitude we shall have: charming and gracious or restrictive and rigid.” It’s a matter of choices, again. We choose how to respond because of an attitude based on how we think about people and events. Learning to think well helps us have proper attitudes.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

Choices I

The choices we make every minute of every day can contribute to making someone’s life a little bit better or worse even without intending to. (Chikamso Efobi, British nature writer)

Making choices is one of the few things we can control. And Efobi reminds us how important our choices might be because they can affect so many others. Parents influence their children, teachers their students, friends their compatriots. Making decisions, therefore, must involve our thinking, not only about what is good for us, but what is best for others we might influence.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).

Serving

True heroism is remarkably sober, very unromantic. (Arthur Ashe, late tennis champion)

Ashe continues, “It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Now, that’s a different slant on being a hero, isn’t it? We tend to think that to be a champion you have to be the best at your game and conquer everybody else. How much better it will be if we seek to “beat” everyone else at being the best at serving them.

And whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others. . . (Matthew 20:26, 28).

Reading

No one ever reads a book. He reads himself through books. (Romain Roland, 19^th-20^th century French dramatist)

That may strike you as strange but think about it for a minute. If you’re reading fiction, you probably often picture yourself in the story—the detective, the rescuing hero—or whatever. If it’s a non-fiction book, you might consider how the principles you’re studying could apply to you. How would you act or respond in the circumstances you’re reading about?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law. . . and continues in it—not forgetting what they have [read and] doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:25).

An Encouraging Word

A quotation at the right moment is like bread to the famished. (From the Talmud, Jewish text)

It’s often difficult to have just the right words to say when you’re trying to encourage or motivate a friend who is having a difficult time. That’s where the wise saying you’ve heard from someone or read from a good book, perhaps the Bible, can be helpful. Read widely, listen carefully, and you may be prepared to bless someone with an encouraging remark.

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up (Proverbs 12:25).

Knowledge

Knowledge leads to conclusions; emotions lead to action. (Craig Groeschel, pastor)

All of life is an education. We never stop learning. But, if what we have learned is only knowledge of the facts for ourselves, we miss the value of teaching others. To do that, we have to do more than share knowledge. We must strive for life transformation. Groeschel goes on to say, “The fastest way to change someone’s mind is to connect with his/her heart.”

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2).