Daily Stop & Thinks

Riches

There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men. (Billy Graham, late evangelist)

Some of God’s chosen people in the Bible were very rich, possessing lots of land and thousands of animals. Abraham gave away much of his. Solomon let wealth go to his head, but his vast fortunes never brought him satisfaction. Job had great riches, but when he lost it all, he maintained his faith and integrity. Does your money own you? Or are you using it wisely?

Don’t store up treasures here on earth . . . Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20).

Double Vision

When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path. (Zen Parable)

This idea could be thought of in more than one way. Yes, keeping your eye on the destination is important. To be distracted and look elsewhere even for a moment can take you way off track. On the other hand, if you aren’t aware of the road you’re on, you might very easily stumble or fall. It’s a good practice to keep in mind where you are and, also, where you’re headed.

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you (Proverbs 4:25).

Pearl Harbor Day

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. (Winston Churchill, British wartime prime minister)

Few people alive today remember the tragic news of the bombing of The U.S. base in Hawaii, which began our involvement in World War II. Offered to British citizens in that war, Churchill’s words should never be forgotten. Today we honor the memories of those gallant service men and women whom God used to preserve our freedom and way of life.

Have you treated [Gideon] with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished? (Judges 9:16)

The Right Way

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. (Oscar Wilde, 19th century Irish poet)

Wilde raises an interesting dilemma. We’re often told to keep our eyes on the goal; that way we’ll never miss the end we’re hoping for. On other hand, if our eye is not on the path, we might misstep or make a wrong turn. Perhaps it’s not an either-or but a both-and. The critical issue in Wilde’s comment might just be the first word: education. Learn to do both well.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:6).

At Home

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, 18th-19th century German poet)

In “The Wizard of Oz” Dorothy was encouraged to repeat: “There’s no place like home.”  And that has been the thought of many travelers—whether on a business trip or away on vacation. Of course, that’s only true if their home is a place of peace and security, which we must continually work for. It is also the picture of an eternal home that awaits the children of God.

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2).

Holiday Reminder

Your children need your presence more than your presents. (Jesse Jackson, social activist)

As you work through your Christmas gift list this month and consider what the children will want, consider this good advice. Gifts are an appropriate way to express love, but they may be quickly lost or broken. What really lasts is the sense of belonging that children will develop with parents who are there through the year as well as on holidays.

The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them (Proverbs 20:7)

Wealth #3

God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving. (Randy Alcorn, author)

In the “American Dream,” we see ourselves with a continual increase in our possessions and standard of living. A story in the Bible (Luke 12) tells of a rich man who built bigger barns to hold his increasing crops. But he died without sharing his wealth and before he could enjoy it himself. Do we have responsibility to help those whose “dream” has not brought them much?

Those who fear the Lord . . . share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever (Psalm 112:1 8-9).

Wealth #2

It’s not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. (Helen Walton, late philanthropist)

Millionaire Malcolm Forbes is credited with saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” To look in a lot of garages or storage bins, is to see good evidence that the sentiment goes far beyond toys or millionaires. The accumulation of “things,” even things of value, means little compared to a life of giving.

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others (1 Timothy 6:18).

Wealth #1

Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. (Larry Mueller, philanthropist)

While we are young, we don’t think much about health. We may exercise and eat wisely, but, generally, we just take health for granted. At the same time, we’re probably working in a career that we hope will bring us future security and all the things we want in the meantime. As we age, however, we discover that “things” don’t matter nearly so much as having good health.

It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

Courage

The brave man is not he who is not afraid, but he who conquers that fear. (Nelson Mandela, late president of South Africa)

Mandela had suffered long imprisonment for his public engagement in efforts to bring equality to the citizens of his country. He said, “I learned that courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.  What a challenge to us to pursue justice and not to give up when it’s tough but to endure for the sake of what is right.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Success

God does not require that we succeed; he only requires that you try. (Mother Teresa)

Illusive success is what aspiring athletes, entertainers, and entrepreneurs are hoping for. But for the world-famous nun who gave her life to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the gaining of fame and possessions was not what she worked for. She believed that God is pleased with those who pursue him and demonstrate faithfulness. That was success to her and should be to us as well.

It is required in stewards that one be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Jesus: “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15).

Perspective

You don’t climb mountains to get to the top; you climb them to see what other mountains there are to climb. (TV commercial)

This TV commercial raises the question of perspective. Why climb the mountain? Some do it just “because it’s there.” Others because they want a better view of the area. A few, apparently, accept this challenge just to see if there are higher, more difficult tests to pursue. In any case, climbing can be really good for you when you are prepared and have a good purpose in mind.