Daily Stop & Thinks

In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action. (Aristotle, 4th century B.C. Greek philosopher)

We like to give honor where honor is due. So we honor people whose character qualities we admire. But, it’s the demonstration of those qualities—the lived-out virtues of character that we celebrate. The key, in Aristotle’s words, is “show … in action.” It’s not what one says about himself but what is seen in the way he lives his life that earns respect and honor.

[There will be] glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good (Romans 2:9).

A leader is a peer who does not see himself as superior to or different from his followers. (Author unknown)

A good leader, then, is not an autocrat or a tyrant. He may hold a superior position in order to exercise his proper function, but he is not essentially different from those he is leading. It’s a truth sometimes hard to realize when society seems to evaluate success in terms of “climbing the corporate ladder.” A peer relationship will most often result in shared achievement.

Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and … like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3, paraphrased).

A man who is told learns with his head; a man who experiences the lesson learns with his heart. (James Rubert, author)

We might add a third to this formula: hands. With our minds (head) we gain information and make connections and judgments. By doing with our hands, we gain the experience Rupert speaks of. And with the heart we become involved in the sense of compassion and the application of the information and experience we’ve gained.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. . . . As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. (Proverbs 4:23; 27:19)

Keep Calm and Carry On. (WW II propaganda banner in England)

In the event of an invasion by the enemy, a banner was to be displayed throughout England to help avoid panic among the people. Although the banners were never used, the warning is as appropriate a watchword as it was then. So much is happening in our world that it would be easy to be frightened, lose self-control, and just “drop out.” Be calm!

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest (Ecclesiastes 10:4). Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid (Isaiah 7:4).

Reputations are earned slowly and are lost quickly. (Lolly Daskal, leadership and development motivator)

The reputation of good character and a solid work ethic are earned only through consistency and hard work. But it takes only a moment of carelessness to destroy that hard-earned reputation. The more you achieve, the more tempting it will be to take shortcuts or forget how far you’ve come. Diligence and discipline are the keys to maintaining character.

Do not neglect your gift … Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress (1 Timothy 4:14-16 )

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? (Dr. Seuss, pen name for Theodor Seuss Geise, children’s author and illustrator)

Remember telling your parents, “Everybody else is doing it; why can’t I?” Conformity seems to be the goal when you’re young; you don’t want to be different from everyone else. Yet, we were all created with different personal characteristics and features. It’s those differences that can give us the opportunity to make unique contributions in our world.

We have different gifts (Romans 12:6)… There are different kinds of gifts… There are different kinds of service… There are different kinds of working (1 Corinthians 12:4, 5, 6).

Good order is the foundation of all things. (Edmund Burke, 18th century Irish-born member of British Parliament)

Someone has said that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind. Others argue that it’s a sign of a creative person. Einstein said further, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” Whatever you think about this issue, Burke reflects a biblical principle that would be helpful for most of us to follow.

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:40)

There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home. (Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter)

We probably all agree with Mrs. Carter. But many people do not even have a home. Storms, floods, natural disasters of all kinds, and the tragedies of broken marriages and financial failures have left thousands of people without any home at all. While we cannot solve everyone’s problems, we should do all we can to help everyone we can.

The Apostle Paul, “. . . we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)

The more you have, the more you’re occupied. The less you have, the more free you are. (Mother Teresa)

Have you ever noticed that many people have garages that are so full of stuff there’s no room to park their cars there? Attics, closets, and storage bins are overflowing, too. How much time and effort does it take to care for them? To be free from the tyranny of “things” would allow us to have time and energy to live more productive lives.

Jesus: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Discouragement is a thief. It steals hope, joy, and happiness. (Mike Lee, American pastor)

Someone has said that life is like a bowl of cherries. The comedienne Erma Bombeck replies, “If life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits?” Sometimes life is like that; we struggle with failure, injury, death, or disease. To restore joy in our lives, we must look beyond ourselves and our circumstances to the source of true joy.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (Romans 15:13).

Any definition of a successful life must include serving others. (George H. W. Bush, 41st president of the United States)

We tend to think of success as having reached the highest pinnacle of achievement in our chosen field of endeavor. Some who climb to the top have done so at the cost of damaging friendships and treating colleagues unfairly in order to arrive there. The most successful, however, as Bush suggests, are those who choose to serve others as they move up.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. (Plato, classical Greek philosopher)

In the U.S., today is “April Fool’s Day” when people play pranks on each other just for fun. But the day should remind us of how foolish we can be when we don’t intend to. As Plato said, some of us talk just to talk or to be heard. Good advice to follow is to think carefully before you speak to be sure you’re saying something worthwhile.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29).