Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – One’s mere word should be as trustworthy as a signed agreement attested by legal witnesses. (Curtis Vaughan, late seminary professor and author)

Why are legally complex contracts necessary today when once you needed only a handshake or a man’s promise? That could be true only because the character of those making the contract was beyond reproach. Their reputation guaranteed the fulfillment of their promise. Regrettably, such integrity seems all too scarce in modern society.

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” (James 5:12)

STOP AND THINK – The quest for character requires that certain things be kept in the heart as well as kept from the heart. An unguarded heart spells disaster. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

What we are and become is the sum of all that we take into our heart (mind). But that’s not all. Equally important is what we don’t allow to enter into our thought patterns and become a part of our makeup. It is important to set boundaries on what we read or see and the activities we pursue so that our minds do not become filled with what is harmful and destructive.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

STOP AND THINK – Integrity characterizes the entire person, not just part of him. He is righteous and honest through and through. He is not only that inside, but also in outer action. (Kent Hughes, pastor and author)

Some people like to compartmentalize their lives. They want to put family, work, hobbies—even religion, into separate parts. Integrity, however, must be the basis of every aspect of life or it isn’t integrity at all. What we really are in our minds and hearts will be reflected in our outward activity, so we’d better learn to integrate integrity fully into our lives.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

STOP AND THINK – If we want our children to possess the traits of character we most admire, we need to teach them what those traits are and why they deserve both admiration and allegiance. (William J. Bennett, former U.S. secretary of education)

Character doesn’t grow naturally like the fictional Topsy. As in the learning of many other qualities, character is best “caught” rather than “taught.” Parents and mentors should teach what character is and how one best achieves integrity, but the living example of those positive qualities is the best means of passing them on.

Impress [my commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7-8)

STOP AND THINK – Integrity is like the weather: Everybody talks about it but nobody knows what to do about it. (Stephen L. Carter, American law professor and writer)

We really do talk a lot about the weather, don’t we—especially after a hard winter and a long-delayed spring? Yet, there’s little we can do about it except to prepare for it. Do we talk about character much? Maybe not, but when we do, we should realize that achieving wisdom and character is far more important than hoping for better weather.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! (Proverbs 16: 16)

STOP AND THINK – Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike. (Theodore Roosevelt, 25th president of the United States)

Roosevelt apparently believed that character is extremely important. He identified it as the “decisive factor” in one’s life. Moreover, The bwin Online mobile casino bonus offers its customers a Roulette experience that is as true to life as in any brick and mortar casino. he goes on to say that the same is true of nations. No matter the military, economic, or political power a nation might possess, those factors are controlled ultimately by the integrity of her leaders.

Righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).

STOP AND THINK – Many a man’s reputation would not know his character if they met on the street. (Elbert Hubbard, 19th & 20th century American writer and philosopher)

We have often contrasted reputation and character, but they are clearly related. The one (reputation) reflects the other. But character determines one’s reputation. That is, if a person’s behavior is consistent with his character—if he maintains his integrity—his reputation will not be in contrast, but be consistent with who he really is.

[Keep] a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior
. . . . may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16)

STOP AND THINK – Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses and avoids. (Aristotle, 4th century B.C. Greek philosopher)

Aristotle was right. Our choices do indeed reveal who we really are. Whatever we may claim about ourselves—our honesty, integrity, loyalty, etc.—will be shown by the way we behave and interact with others. The activities we choose to participate in or, conversely, refuse to be a part of show what we’re really like. To show good character, make right choices.

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

STOP AND THINK – The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he’s born. (William R. Inge, 19th-20th century Anglican priest, author, and educator)

We all understand, no doubt, that we need to begin teaching our children life’s virtues and values at the very earliest age. But Inge suggests that’s not soon enough. Is he speaking of some kind of pre-natal influence? More likely, he’s emphasizing the importance of how parents live their own lives of integrity that will continue as an example to their children.

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

STOP AND THINK – Doing what you said you would do is simply an issue of integrity. There is no substitute for having the guts to keep your word. (Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author)

It used to be that a man’s word was his bond. A handshake was all that was necessary to seal a deal. A person’s “Yes” meant yes. The test, of course, is not when you make the deal. The test comes when the hard times arrive, when it’s difficult to keep the promise. That’s when the honest person keeps his word.

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

STOP AND THINK – No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19^th century American essayist)

Too often when we’ve made a mistake, we try to use the excuse that our circumstances forced us to make the bad decision. We’d like to think it really wasn’t our fault. Yet, in reality, we are responsible for our choices and actions. Circumstances may be difficult, but that only serves to test our character and demonstrate our integrity.

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9)

STOP AND THINK – The measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out. (Baron Thomas Babington Macauley, 19th century British historian)

Remember when you were a child and you wanted to do something you knew would displease your parents? Where did you do it? Certainly not in front of them! Why is it that when we are tempted to do something we know is wrong, we try to hide? We don’t want to be seen. The person of character realizes that such hidden activity is always wrong.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)