Daily Stop & Thinks

There was no such thing as new truth. Error might be old or new; but truth was as old as the universe. (Frederich Douglass, 19^th century social reformer)

Douglass’ statement needs to be emphasized again in our modern world: “There [is] no such thing as new truth.” Studious men and women are continuing to make new and exciting discoveries, but they are merely finding new uses or workings of already established principles of science. Recognizing the source of all truth will result in a great increase in wisdom.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. … Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 1:17; 14:6).

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what he gets from it, but what he becomes by it. (John Ruskin, 19^th century English art critic)

Ruskin is probably not speaking against a fair wage or gaining a just benefit for good work and diligent service. What he has said causes us to realize that there is more to be gained by hard work than just a salary. The lessons learned from work, the experience gained, and the character that is formed are the long-lasting rewards for faithful work.

All hard work brings a profit (Proverbs 14:23). Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Where goodness and truth exist, there you will find beauty. (Pat Sajak, TV show host)

Sajak continues, “Our purpose is to seek truth in order to discover and to act on what is good and beautiful in this life.” He also quotes the website of Hillsdale College: “The good of anything is found in its ability to accomplish what it was created for.” So, to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is too subjective. Beauty is objectively displayed in truth and goodness.

[Speak] the truth in love. . . . For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 4:15; 5:9).

Great leaders never give up. (Jim Hines, Physician and gubernatorial candidate)

Perseverance is an essential quality in the pursuit of achieving worthy goals. Wannabe leaders who give in to the pressures of politics, societal demands, or distractions most often cannot recruit others to work with them. Wanting to lead demands the perseverance that involves diligence, focus, and commitment.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded (2 Chronicles 15:7).

Success isn’t something you achieve. It’s who you become. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational speaker and author)

Most of us probably look at success as something to be achieved by accomplishing some great feat, discovering a cure for illness, or inventing new technology which benefits society. The greater achievement, however, is the development of character and integrity that are noble and set an example for the benefit and growth of those who will follow us.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. (1 Chronicles 19:17) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech. (Titus 2:7-8)

A true disciple is evidenced not by how much he or she knows but by how much he or she obeys. (Kip Cone, pastor)

Every leader—whether religious or secular—wants to have knowledgeable followers. They want the workers they are training to know their business and their targets (customers, users, etc.) well. But there is one requisite that is even more important. A good follower will stick to the leader’s instructions diligently.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. (Philemon 1:21)

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. (William Faulkner, 20^th century Nobel Prize author)

We seem to be born with a great sense of competition. Even little children always want to win, to be first, and we never seem to completely outgrow that urge to triumph. No one can always be the best at everything, so Faulkner’s advice is well taken. Compete against yourself; seek to do better as you grow and mature. That is the kind of winning that brings satisfying results.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul. (Douglas MacArthur, late 5-star American general)

MacArthur was not speaking of physical age but growth in maturity or advancement. He saw that when a person leaves his moral standard, he or she seems to deteriorate in their real self—their heart and mind. The body may weaken, the face may wrinkle, but the soul remains healthy and strong if a person maintains integrity, holding on to what is right and good.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4) Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature (Ephesians 4:13).

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. (James R. Sherman, 19^th century English minister.

This oft-repeated quotation may be overlooked because it is so simple and obvious. We often talk about starting over or going back to “square 1,” but that isn’t really possible. Times and circumstances have changed, making a completely new start impossible, but we can pick up where we are, work with renewed energy and purpose, and achieve a promising end.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8). The desire of the righteous ends only in good (Proverbs 11:23).

Some men see things as they are and say why – I dream things that never were and say why not. (George Bernard Shaw, 19^th & 20^th centuries Irish playwright)

Every day seems to bring new inventions and radical changes in modern society. We might be curious about those things and want to know how they were discovered and for what purpose. Shaw takes a different tack and seems to urge us to dream about things that haven’t yet been discovered or brought to life, encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit to search for them.

Whatever exists is far off and most profound— who can discover it? . . . “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things. (Ecclesiastes 7:24, 27).

Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy, or stupid. Those things are what happen when you don’t have a plan. (Larry Winget, social commentator)

“Plan your work and work your plan,” they say. Sounds like a good idea, but some of us don’t like to spend the time it takes to develop a really good plan. As Winget suggests, however, failure to plan can have some really unpleasant results. So, which is better—spending time fixing up what happens without a plan or taking time to plan carefully?

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. (Proverbs 14:22).

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. (Ken Blanchard, management expert and author)

Sometimes we may think that our authority should motivate our colleagues to accomplish their work more effectively. But, forcing people to do what we want because we have the power to do so is often an unsuccessful strategy. However, influence by persuasion, careful counsel and concern will likely accomplish more than merely exercising one’s authority.

For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. (Romans 13:4).