Daily Stop & Thinks

Others

Any value system worth having is focused on others, not self. (Michael Lockstampfor, minister)

The desire for success seems almost to be inherent. Most of us want to do our best, to climb up in our profession or activity, and to win. Sometimes that ambition may overtake our value system so that we think only of ourselves and our passion to succeed. Real success, however, operates on a different value system, a biblical one.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Comparisons

As long as we measure ourselves according to the guy down the street, we can come off pretty good. (Randy Smith, professor)

Have you ever compared yourself and your accomplishments with someone else? We feel bad—even jealous—when they’re doing better than we are, but we feel pretty good if the comparison favors us. But, comparing ourselves with others is often not healthy. We should be competing only with ourselves and our goals. Are we moving forward? If not, what can we do to improve?

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. (Galatians 6:4)

Judging Others

We tend to be very good lawyers when it comes to our own mistakes, but very good judges when it comes to the mistakes of others. (Tullian Tchividjian, author, speaker)

It’s easy to defend your mistakes, to rationalize your own failures, isn’t it? We always have good reasons for our errors and missteps, and we’re quick to explain them. But, do we offer the same “grace” to others when they goof? Many of us are so quick to criticize someone else when they make a faux pas. Rather than acting as self-appointed judges, it would be better to offer help.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Good Judgment

Knowledge is the Treasure, but Judgment the Treasurer of a Wise Man. (William Penn, Founder of Pennsylvania)

Education is an integral part of a healthy society. Modern technology has made the obtaining of knowledge much easier since information is increasing exponentially, but more than knowledge is required. Penn continues, “He that has more Knowledge than Judgment is made for another man’s use more than his own.” To be wise, exercise sound judgment along with learning.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7)

Bloom

When you’re in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried; perhaps you’ve been planted: bloom. (Gabriela Eric)

Sometimes life is so difficult that it may seem that we’ve been buried under unrelenting circumstances. Whether it’s personal, job-related, or a social difficulty, we long to be relieved. But consider this Mexican proverb: They tried to bury us; they didn’t know we were seeds.”

[Those who] delight in the Lord… are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. (Psalm 1:2-3)

Veterans Day

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. (Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India’s independence movement)

Today in America we honor the veterans who served in the military to protect our country and our freedom. Many of those men and women experienced great changes in their life’s purpose as they encountered multiple changes in their military careers. In those transforming years, they began to discover a new identity as they lost themselves in the service of their countrymen.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Success (or Disappointment)

The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. (Deborah Moggach, British writer)

Moggach offers two really important ideas. Some people don’t want to try something new because they’re afraid it won’t work. The fear of failure often keeps a lot of people from moving ahead. The other observation has to do with disappointment. Everyone faces it from time to time. How we overcome it and move on is a success in itself and should be celebrated.

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. (Proverbs 23:17-19)

Relief

When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig. That’s about all you can do. (Leonard Cohen, Canadian novelist and poet)

Is Cohen’s advice really helpful? Are we to deal with our concerns by ignoring them and masking them with frivolity? Surely, that’s not a happy way to live—nor will it lead to overcoming difficulties and finding success. There is a better way because we do not have to face our trials alone.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Perspective

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century poet)

This oft-quoted axiom has been argued by many thinkers. It is true that if you hold to an erroneous view, continuing to support it makes you look foolish, if not completely ignorant. On the other hand, what may appear to some to be foolish might indeed be a newly discovered truth or a new perspective on ideas that have to be looked at with openness.

You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. (Proverbs 8:5)

Confession

Here’s what’s cool: Admitting you were wrong. (Warren Buffett, wealthy philanthropist)

This is no. 6 in Buffett’s list of cool things. It may be cool, but we don’t see a lot of it. This is because it’s so hard to do. Do you remember a TV situation comedy a few years ago when the Fonz just couldn’t say, “I was w-w-r-r-ong”? It’s often pride that keeps us from admitting our errors. Yet, doing so can restore a broken relationship as well as give us a great sense of freedom.

I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. (Psalm 38:18)

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

More than Facts

Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin. (Ivan Pavlov, 19th & 20th century Russian physiologist)

“Just give me the facts” was a frequent line in an old detective TV show. That would be important in solving a crime, but the inquisitive student who researches the beginnings of things and the intricacies of their development may discover the real significance of those facts as they relate to life. Meaningful learning must go far beyond mere knowledge of the facts.

Aspects of [God’s] deep wisdom that were hidden away, He shows in plain sight. (Job 12:22)

Work Your Dream

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 20th century French writer)

Sounds like out-of-the-box thinking, doesn’t it? We usually begin our construction projects by developing plans, hiring the workers, and overseeing the construction. But Saint-Exupery makes a challenging point. If we want people to join us in any worthy project, we have to help them imagine the desired result, planting the seed of hope; then, they’ll be ready to work.

A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. . . It is pleasant to see dreams come true. (Proverbs 13:12, 19)