True greatness is accompanied by humility. (Rob Singleton, author and storyteller)
The fame of many popular artists, actors, sports figures, and politicians is often rather short-lived. The next “great” person on stage or in the record book will usually make us forget the former stars. But the humble person who takes his status with a realistic understanding of self and achievement will be long remembered.
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor (Proverbs 29:23).
The know-it-all has nothing to learn. (Antonin Scalia, late US supreme court justice)
He said, “[The] attitude of humility before the breadth of knowledge mankind has accumulated, and before the even greater breadth of the unknown, is the beginning of wisdom.” We’ve all known a “know-it-all.” And we quickly discovered that he or she wasn’t really as knowledgeable as they thought. A little humility would have made it easier to listen and understand.
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).
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. (Plutarch, ancient Greek philosopher)
To put it another way: what we are is more important than what we do, because what we are determines what we do. Conversely, what we do reflects what we really are. It’s important, of course, to perfect our skills and abilities. But when we are careful to develop our heart, mind, and attitudes, we will be most effective in the use of our physical abilities.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45).
When your priorities are confused, don’t be surprised if you are, too! (Kenneth J. Brown, author)
What do I do next? What should I concentrate on today? When should I schedule my next appointment? These are questions we all face from time to time, and the question is how do we make our choices? It’s usually a question of convenience or our feelings at the moment of decision, but it ought to be on the basis of what is really most important in the long run.
Jesus: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
What we focus on makes all the difference. (Ruth Rupp, grandmotherly advice)
Rupp emphasizes: “We can’t always change our circumstances, but we can choose what we focus on.” How often do we wish we could change things around us? If we just had a different job; if my family would be more understanding; if, if, if… Keep this simple but helpful advice in mind: be careful about the focus of your attention and life.
The Apostle Paul, “I have not achieved it (perfection), but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 4:13).
It’s ridiculous to want to change the world without acknowledging that we need to change ourselves. (Eugene Cho, pastor and author)
Many years ago, a Russian author expressed the same idea: “Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself” (Leo Tolstoy). As you watch or read the news today, don’t you often think of ways you would change things if you only had the position and authority to do so? Start with yourself and then your influence may affect much larger change.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. (Josh Billings, pen name of 19th century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw.)
We often wish we had been dealt better cards, that is, that our heritage, environment, gifting, and personality were different somehow. We think that if only we could change those things, we would be and do so much better. That’s questionable, of course, but what is more important, as Billings suggests, is that we work hard to improve and use well what we’ve been given.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another (1 Peter 4:10).
There [can] be no freedom without each of us discharging our responsibilities. (Paraphrase of Clarence Thomas, supreme court justice)
On this important holiday, we most often think of the liberties and freedom that were won for us by our Founding Fathers at great personal cost. But Thomas points us to the equally important duty of all of us to preserve our freedoms. He wrote, “There [is] always . . . a connection between the things we [value] most and our personal obligations or efforts [to sustain them].
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)
Storytelling—in songs, paintings, films, and books—is perhaps the most important way we learn about our world. (Eric Metaxas, radio host and author)
Metaxas has told fascinating stories of men like Reformer Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, World War II pastor and martyr. He also authored children’s books and videos, using stories to teach important life lessons. From bedtime stories of our childhood to current fiction and non-fiction, we are still moved and motivated by good stories. Read one today!
Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand (Mark 4:33).
Truth is so obscure in these times and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it. (Blaise Pascal, 17th century French philosopher)
Apparently not much has changed since Pascal’s 17th century observation. We can’t seem to even trust the “fact-checkers” today. Almost everyone has his own corner on the truth, and it’s obvious that opposite issues cannot both be true. We each must be responsible to really want to know the truth and search for and share it carefully.
Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment (Proverbs 23:23).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6).
This moment isn’t meant to be a destination but a preparation . . . (Paul David Trip, author)
Sometimes we think that what we’re doing today is the most important issue of life without realizing what happens today is critical to tomorrow’s success, too. Tripp was thinking of preparation for a “final destination” with an important other world, spiritual application. But it can have a “this world” practical application, too. Be sure you’re preparing with the end in mind.
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity (Proverbs 21:5).
A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good just because it’s accepted by the majority. (Booker T. Washington, 19th-20th century educator)
We are living in an upside-down world today where Washington’s comment may be truer than ever. Whether it’s politics, advertising, literature, or entertainment, we’re faced with untruths and deception often in the name of trying to do good. In other words, the ends justify the means. But such behavior leads only to more of the same. Let’s determine what’s true and firmly defend it!
Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth (2 Timothy 2:25).