Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – We must warn people not to build nests in trees destined for the axe. (Author unknown)

A thought-provoking metaphor! Building nests implies making some kind of permanent investment, whether it’s a “nest egg” of savings or a residence. In either case you should be very careful about the long-term prospects of your “investment.” Careful planning with an eye to the future is essential for the safety and permanence of your treasure.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20)

STOP AND THINK – Man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, late United States Supreme Court associate justice)

That truth just might be a two-edged sword. If an evil idea is introduced into our thinking, we might not be able to disregard it, and that could lead to bad behavior. We’d prefer to look at it more positively. When good ideas are introduced, they provide an impetus to move forward, to expand our thinking, and to pursue worthy goals.

So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things. (Ecclesiastes 7:25)

STOP AND THINK – Whenever you get one inch above the ground in your own esteem, you are that inch too high. (Charles Spurgeon, 19th century British preacher)

Self-esteem is an important element in today’s evaluation of a person’s value. That’s quite different, of course, from self-promotion. In our day, looking out for #1 (meaning, me) seems to be the goal and purpose of life. That is such a contrast from the humility that most often characterizes the successful achievers of history.

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

STOP AND THINK – Look for things to laugh at—and laugh out loud. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

Life is serious. At times the events of our lives are not only tedious, but there are times when circumstances and responsibilities hang heavy on us, and we become burdened with it all. Those are the times, perhaps, when Swindoll would suggest that we find something to brighten our lives—perhaps have some fun. Laughing can really lighten the load.

A merry heart does good, like medicine. (Proverbs 17:22)

STOP AND THINK – To lead with integrity means to place the highest value on issues of character and the heart, not on outward conformity and performance. (Scott Morton, management consultant)

Our society seems to honor achievement and accomplishment in sports, music, and entertainment no matter the morality or ethical behavior of the performer. Often, an achiever of integrity is less highly regarded—or even overlooked—because his quiet, humble, unassuming behavior is so different. What a shame that our standards are so askew!

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9)

STOP AND THINK – Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them. (Epictetus, 2nd century Greek Stoic philosopher)

It may require a little maturity to see things the way Epictetus did. Most of us are inclined to judge “things” as they happen to us, either crediting or blaming them for how life turns out for us. In reality, of course, “things” are not to blame. It’s how we look at them, how we respond to them. We are the responsible actors, not “things.”

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me . . . All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. (Philippians 3:13-15)

STOP AND THINK – Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. (Albert Einstein, 20th century theoretical physicist)

Our attitude is one of the very few things we can control. If we don’t, our emotions will be affected by every circumstance of life so that we almost become victims, reacting passively to whatever happens. Einstein seems to say that if we are not intentional in controlling our attitudes, we will develop a weakened character, which is not something we want to do.

You were taught . . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

STOP AND THINK – Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. (Martin Luther, 16th century Reformation leader)

Many different factors motivate people to move ahead, to pursue a dream or a vision. But, no doubt, as Luther suggested, hope may be the greatest motivation of all. If we think the future is uncertain or that what we are pursuing can’t succeed—in other words, if we have no hope, our dreams will certainly fail. It’s a certain hope that keeps us seeking worthy goals.

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

STOP AND THINK – The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. (Marcel Proust, 19th-20th century French novelist)

Is it possible that we have become so attached to our surroundings and our limited experiences that we miss seeing the potential around us? Are we wasting time wishing for new vistas, longing to visit new places, wanting new situations to experience? As Proust suggests, perhaps all we really need is to look at what we have with fresh eyes.

Do you have eyes but fail to see? (Mark 8:18)

STOP AND THINK – Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for? (Robert Browning, 19th century English poet)

Ambition is sometimes thought of as an unworthy attribute, especially when one seeks to achieve more for his own pride of accomplishment. However, Browning seems to suggest that we should strive to achieve more and more, trying to go beyond what we think we can do. When we succeed, we will likely have a sense of worth and value.

Your beauty . . . should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

STOP AND THINK – Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow! (Mark Twain)

That’s the reverse of the usual admonition to do today what you should without putting it off. Twain’s comment gives a whole new meaning to the big 50-cent word, procrastination. It describes well the attitude of the really lazy person, yet there are probably times when we would all like to defer action to sometime much later. It’s not a healthy habit, however.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor,“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” when you already have it with you. (Proverbs 3:27-28)

STOP AND THINK – Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new. (Inspiration Line)

Emotions come and go; they are affected by circumstances, events, and how people treat you. Even happily married couples have to work at maintaining a healthy love relationship. Unlike what you might read or see in romance novels and movies, love is hard work. It demands attention, consideration, and effort. But, it’s worth it, of course.

Love … is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:5, 7)