Daily Stop & Thinks

Too Much

A desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when that desire becomes a ruling thing. (Paul David Tripp, devotional writer)

Can you get too much of a good thing? Many of us have discovered that second helpings of a delicious dish may have unpleasant consequences. So, the answer is yes. Tripp’s observation is a warning to those of us who can’t stop soon enough—whether it’s eating, bingeing on a TV, or the constant use of our phone. When even “good” things control us, it’s no longer good for us.

Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! (Proverbs 25:16) Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool (Ecclesiastes 5:3).

Humility

The first product of self-knowledge is humility. (Flannery O’Connor, 20th century novelist)

It is perfectly natural to think of ourselves first. If we don’t, who will? But as we grow and become more mature in our reasoning, we begin to realize that we may not be as “great” as we once hoped or thought. In fact, in recognizing our weaknesses and failures along with any successes, we cannot help but think more realistically about ourselves.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3). For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Luke 14:11).

Humility

Humility is the only soil in which true unity can grow. (Michael Reeves)

Stardom (and even superstardom) is the goal of many youngsters starting out in sports, entertainment, or the arts; It’s all “me first,” or “I’ll do it my way.” Many stars seem to forget how the work and efforts of many others made their success possible. Teamwork is often the key to meaningful progress, and it requires true humility to reach the goal.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13)

Nature

One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books. (John Muir, 19th-20th century environmental philosopher)

Muir was not intending to discredit enjoying and learning from books. Rather, he simply wanted to encourage people to move on from books to personal experience. You can read about the mountains, even watch documentaries on their grandeur, but there’s nothing like hiking the hills and seeing the view from the top.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known (Psalm 19:1-2).

Home

There’s no place like home. Ask any prodigal who has come back.

It’s a familiar thought, often repeated when returning from an extended vacation. People who may be dissatisfied with their job or circumstances sometimes think it would be really good to move somewhere else. Later, they may become discontent with the changes they’ve made and wish to go back home. That is especially true of those whose decisions have cost them dearly.

A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest (1 Peter 27:8) For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come (Hebrews 13:14).

Perfection

This life was not intended to be our place of perfection, but the preparation for it. (Richard Baxter, 17th century English Puritan writer)

Although God’s creation was perfect (Genesis 1), after sin entered so did imperfection and hardship. God’s intention, however, is to one day restore his creation to perfection. Learning to live according to his plan will enable us to grow more and more into the people he intended us to be. And that will be complete when he brings us to a restored relationship with him in heaven.

I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me (Philippians 3:12).

Wanting It All

Wanting all you can get will keep you from becoming all you can be. (Brent Sandy, author)

Remember the bumper sticker that said: “He Who Dies with The Most Toys Wins!” That does seem to be a constant theme in society yet today. We often judge success by the accumulation of possessions and wealth. Yet, the prevalent anxiety and hopelessness of our society today surely puts the lie to that premise and Sandy’s statement is a challenge to seek something higher.

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Starting Over

Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning . . . Anyone can start over and make a new ending. (Chico Xavier, Brazilian philanthropist)

How many times have you wished you could just start over? You made a big mistake that ruined a project and there was no way to correct it. Maybe you didn’t measure twice before you made that one wrong cut. In many cases, however, as Xavier suggests, you can back up and start fresh. Take a new piece of wood, measure it more carefully, and then make your cut. Move on!

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over (Jeremiah 18:4).

Mistakes

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein, noted 20th century physicist)

We all make mistakes; no one is exempt. But Einstein’s observation is a challenge to keep on trying even after we’ve made a blunder. Often those mistakes help us to find a different way—maybe even a better one—to accomplish our intended goal. So, it’s the person who never tried again who foregoes the joy of discovery.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes (James 3:2). The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again (Proverbs 24:1). 

Potential

People who fail in life are people who find lots of excuses. (Ben Carson, quoted by Cal Thomas)

The quote continues: “It’s never too late for a person to recognize that they have potential in themselves.” We began making excuses very early in life and found it easy to blame others for our mistakes. The sooner we learn to deal with reality and stop making excuses, the sooner we will acknowledge our mistakes, recognize our own ability, and move on quickly to succeed.

We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it . . .  we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

Expectations

Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on our own expectations for ourselves. (Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker)

Living up to the expectations of others can be tough: the coach, who expected you to be a better player or the professor who thought you should write better papers. Even harder might be the expectations you have for yourself. You think you won’t do well, and you don’t. You think you should do better, and the pressure gets to you. Set realistic goals and do your best to reach them.

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (Romans 12:3).

Choices

Sometimes leadership means trusting your instincts above everything else. (From a TV script)

Making decisions is a critical element in leadership. Managers want to gain all the relevant information before choosing among several possible options. They will consult with other management personnel. But, in the end they may have to depend a bit on their own knowledge and experience.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe (Proverbs 2:10-11).