Daily Stop & Thinks

Work

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. (Helen Keller, early 20th century American educator)

Who decides what is significant? Is a father teaching his son how to solve an arithmetic problem any less significant than a mathematician discovering a theory that helps resolve an aerodynamic question? It might have been the father’s help that resulted in the significant discovery. In reality, it is God who determines whether we are to do noble or common work.

But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded (2 Chronicles 15:7).

Work

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. (The Bible)

In other words, whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Our thoughts this month will focus on work. The diligent worker always tries to do his best, taking pride in his work whether or not it will be seen by others. Famous sculptors are said to have finished the back side of a statue with equal care as the front side. That’s a good example to follow.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Colossians 3:23).

Wisdom

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

The essential elements of education are still knowing how to read, write, and do the math. But from the earliest days of formal training, the truer goal of education must be to know how to use what is learned. Such knowledge will have great value over one’s lifetime. The result is a life of wisdom which will benefit you and others.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death (Proverbs 13:14).

Wisdom

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up. (Mark Twain)

Sometimes it seems to take forever to make up our mind. Which job should I take? Where should we have lunch? Should we go south for the winter? We should not delay our choices indefinitely. Procrastination in decision-making is common, yet the longer we take to make up our minds, the less time there is to enjoy the decision.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom (Psalm 90:12). 

Wisdom

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. (Soren Kierkegaard, 19th century Danish philosopher)

Maybe this is just another way of stating the old adage, “Hindsight is 20/20.” We often wish we could have a “do-over” of certain past events with the knowledge that we now have. Since it doesn’t work that way, it is the better part of wisdom to use what we have learned from the past to inform the way we live today, taking full advantage of life’s experience.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4).

Wisdom

The best learning I had came from teaching. (Corrie Ten Boom, Holocaust survivor)

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to teach, you discovered early on that you were learning more than your students. When you prepare to teach a subject—not just read or hear about it—you begin to understand the topic more clearly. So, try to be a teacher whenever and however you can; you’ll not only help students, but you’ll be a lifetime learner, too.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3:16). 

Wisdom

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. (Albert Einstein)

What an interesting statement from a renowned scientist whose theories are not so easily explained—at least for the lay person. It is a reminder that we should try to make our explanations understandable to anyone we’re talking to. Life may be complex, so we need to seek wisdom that is relevant, easy to understand, and useful.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

Wisdom

The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important. (Inspiration Line)

We rightfully respect the wisdom of years. We have high regard for those who have lived long and fulfilling lives. We often grieve, however, at wasted lives, and mourn the early death of young men and women who seem to have so much to offer. So, it isn’t the length of life that matters so much; it’s what you do with the time you’re given.

Walk in wisdom . . .  making the best use of [your] time (Colossians 4:5).

Wisdom

The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values. (William Ralph Inge, 19th-20th century Anglican professor)

There are many ways to teach and many theories of education. We say that the teacher hasn’t taught unless the student has learned. But the important question is what has he learned? The student who has merely gained some facts is not yet well educated. Along with knowledge, wisdom and discernment must be achieved, resulting in the learning of principles and ethics.

These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance (Proverbs 1:4-5).

Wisdom

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. (Goethe, 18th-19th century German writer)

Knowledge is important; you won’t get far without knowing something. Willingness, even eagerness is good; without them you won’t go far, either. But knowledge is worthless if it is not put to use. Wisdom is the good use of knowledge. Likewise, it takes more than a willing attitude to accomplish anything worthwhile. As Nike puts it, “Just do it.”

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23).

Wisdom

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s ME. (Inspiration Line)

This interesting twist to a familiar saying is really challenging! Most often we cannot change others; we have to accept them as they are and recognize the truth that change, most of the time, has to begin with us, with me. What a difference it would make if we were to recognize this truth and work hard at the changes we need to make in ourselves!

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with everyone (Romans 12:18).

Wisdom

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… The truly wise person is color-blind. (Albert Schweitzer, late Nobel Peace Prize winner)

This statement may be over-simplified, but it does often reflect the attitude of some people. The pessimist sees nothing positive; the optimist refuses to see anything negative. In reality, we shouldn’t be strictly “color-blind,” or we’ll miss the danger signals of red and the fresh opportunities of green. We should view life with the wisdom gained from learning and experience.

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view (Proverbs 17:24).