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)
GOD OF HOPE – Your character & integrity as a leader are much more important to the people who work for you than how much you pay them. (Mike Lee, American pastor)
Even in a society where money seems to rule and many people are primarily concerned about how much they can make, it is still true that most people would rather work for an honest boss at a lower wage than for a scoundrel who may pay more. That says something important about leaders who maintain a good relationship with staff because of their high integrity.
Have I not … [taught] you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? (Proverbs 22:20-21)
GOD OF HOPE – Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just having money or things. (Chinese fortune cookie).
When you think of prosperity, you undoubtedly picture luxurious living or having money to do or buy what you want. But such prosperity can be lost in a moment of time from unexpected illness, sudden death, or a market collapse. We need to think more of the well-being of our spirit than our physical lives because of the eternal consequences.
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)
GOD OF HOPE – There is nothing wrong or unnatural with feeling weary, but there is everything wrong with abandoning ship in the midst of the fight. (Chuck Swindoll, pastor and author)
We all get tired; it’s part of life—when you work hard, you
may become weary. It’s natural, the common experience of everyone. The remedy is not to stop working, but to rest. It’s called taking a Sabbath. Work six days, rest on the seventh. It’s a principle and practice that will sustain you in body and spirit.
… on the seventh day God rested from all his work. (Hebrews 4:4)