Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – The most likely man to go to hell is the man who has nothing to do on earth. Idle people tempt the devil to tempt them. (C. H. Spurgeon, 19th century British preacher)

Pretty harsh words! Someone has said that what one does in this life is but preparation for the next. No doubt that’s true in some sense, but what about the person who does almost nothing, the idle or lazy person? The old adage, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” reinforces the danger of living life without effort or purpose.

We command you . . . to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

STOP AND THINK – Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence. (Pythagoras, 6th century B.C. Greek mathematician and philosopher)

It’s hard to be quiet in today’s culture. When people get together, they can’t stand silence. Consider the constant “chatting” on electronic devices—we often fill the airwaves with mindless chatter. The counsel of Pythagoras is wise. How online bingo much better it would be if, while we are talking or texting, we would actually say something worthwhile.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Proverbs 17:28)

STOP AND THINK – A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. (Josh Billings, the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw)

Perhaps Shaw’s observation is true. It does seem that pets—dogs in particular—often seem to try to please their “master” without much thought of themselves. Whether it’s true or not, it’s a worthy lesson for people to learn. We might find greater fulfillment in trying to help and please others more than simply satisfying our own desires.

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

STOP AND THINK – Only failure can be attained without effort. (Roadside sign)

Very little of value comes without effort. Whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual, accomplishment requires the expending of energy—sometimes it may be in all three spheres. If it doesn’t take real physical exertion, it at least may require careful thinking or meditation. Otherwise, not much of lasting benefit will be achieved.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. (Colossians 3:23)

STOP AND THINK – Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. (Jim Brown, American pastor)

In a society where “me first” seems to be the rule, humility is not highly regarded. People say that if you don’t stand up for yourself, who will? And some put on a front of false humility, hoping that others will boost their morale. We don’t need to put ourselves down, we simply need to put others first, willingly taking second place.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. (Romans 12:3)

STOP AND THINK – There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. (Epictetus, 1st century Greek stoic philosopher)

The philosopher’s counsel has at least one worthy lesson: worrying about the future will not bring happiness. You can’t control the future by the power of your will. But, is that really all there is to finding happiness? The stoic might find a measure of peace when he can overcome anxiety, but there must be some more positive approach to finding lasting joy.

The prospect of the righteous is joy. (Proverbs 10:28)

STOP AND THINK – Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character. (Albert Einstein, preeminent German-born 20th century physicist)

It’s popular to say that some very simple activity doesn’t “take a nuclear scientist,” as if being a scientist is the personification of intelligence. Apparently, Einstein viewed

it in a different light. A scientist needs to do careful research and experiments and report his findings with honesty and forthrightness, whatever the results.
Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making. (Proverbs 16:11)

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)

The Bible says that men love darkness rather than light because of their evil deeds (John 3:19). We don’t do our “evil deeds” out in public, do we? We hide them from the public. People with integrity, however, are not afraid to have their private activity seen, because they live out their true character in public and in private.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

STOP AND THINK – Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened . . . (Helen Keller, 20th century American blind author and lecturer)

Like trees that endure harsh winds or muscles that are strengthened through exercise, or metal that is tempered, so is the character of mankind when it is tested and tried. It’s through enduring the hard times, persevering in difficulty that character and strength are formed and developed.

[You are] being strengthened with all power according to [God’s] glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. (Colossians 1:11)

STOP AND THINK – Reputation grows like a mushroom; Character grows like an oak. (William Hershey Davis, 20th century biblical scholar)

It takes many years for an acorn to develop into a full-grown, strong oak. Many other trees grow quickly, but never become stable. Character is like that, too. It takes life’s experiences and trials to establish character, but the strength they develop is long-lasting and fruitful.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

STOP AND THINK – Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. (Abraham Lincoln)

An interesting analogy. A tree cannot escape its shadow; whatever direction the light comes from, it casts a shadow of the real tree. Neither can a person escape his reputation. Wherever there is light, your life will be seen for what it is; you cannot pretend to be someone else. What does your shadow reflect?

Describing the man who wants to serve God: He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:7)

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)

If Hubbard is right, what an indictment it is upon mankind! Is it possible that our behavior makes people think of us in a way that is so different from what we really are? Surely, it should be our purpose to live in such a way that our conduct reflects noble character and integrity.

Solomon wrote the biblical Proverbs “for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair.” (Proverbs 1:3)