Author: admin

Courage is one of the great character qualities largely missing in leaders today. People seem more concerned with holding their job or being re-elected or nurturing their popularity than they are with having the courage to do and say the right thing.

If anyone ought to be characterized by courage it should be Christians. Christians have the Holy Spirit residing within them to guide them and to give them the words to say in critical moments. Believers understand that one day they will give an account to the risen Christ for everything they have said and done (2 Corinthians 5:10). They also have a standard of living found in Scripture that is clear and unchanging regardless of what is politically correct at the time. With so many resources available to them, Christians have every reason to be courageous in doing what was right.

Unbelievers are not so. They do not have God as their advocate or guide. They cannot be sure they are doing the right thing or going in the best direction.

They must depend on people because they do not rely on God. They must also determine what is right to do, because Scripture is not their guide.

The days in which we live are challenging. Leading can be an intimidating proposition. But this is not a time to play it safe or to stand safely on the sidelines. It is a day that calls for courage. May you face today with resolve to do what is right, regardless of the challenge.

Carelessness is one of the most accepted, and yet devastating sins. It is easy to excuse someone who “forgot” or “didn’t realize” or “somehow didn’t notice.” Careless people often have the best of intentions. They can be likeable, carefree people with a ready smile. Yet their behavior is sinful and it causes others to suffer.

Every person has responsibilities. Even Adam was assigned certain tasks to perform in the perfect Garden of Eden! To be truly human is to be responsible. And, because God made us interdependent on others, our carelessness harms those who depended on us to do our job.

If you are careless with your finances, you will be unable to invest in the people who need your help. Your children and grandchildren will go without. Your church and various ministries will not receive your support. Being diligent is not the same as being obsessed. It simply means you are a good steward of that which God entrusts to you.

God does not ask us to delegate our responsibility to someone else. He expects us to carefully attend to our affairs. Saying you didn’t know is no excuse. Saying you were under the impression things were different is unacceptable. Do you know the state of your affairs?

We would like to be known for our words. Most people can muster up some eloquent or noble phrases that can impress others. We can all make high-sounding comments about what we believe. It is easy to assent to the importance of godly behavior. If it was merely an issue of saying the correct things, most of us could rise to the occasion, at least occasionally.

But our character is most clearly identified, not by what we say, but by our heart. To know someone’s heart is to know them. Our affections determine our actions. What we value sets our agenda. We may put on a mask on the outside, but it is what is on our inside that represents our true identity.

How do you know what is in someone’s heart? Watch what they do. Words are cheap. Actions reflect our true values. If we act selfishly, we are reflecting a selfish heart. If we behave proudly, our heart is clearly filled with pride. If we show no concern for the welfare of others, we clearly have a calloused heart. Our words can also reveal what lies in our heart. Not our prepared speeches and pious pronouncements, but what we utter in our unguarded moments. What you say in anger reflects what lurks in your heart, not what you say in your Bible study group. What you say at the end of an exhausting day is a better indicator of your heart than what you say in a job interview.

Have you conducted a heart examination lately? Have you monitored your actions? Have you listened carefully to your words? Are you pleased with what your heart reveals about the current state of your character?

People have an effect on others either for good or for ill. The key is to surround ourselves with the right kind of people!

It can be tempting to gravitate toward people who are just like us. It is comforting to have friends who think we are wonderful and who agree with all of our opinions. The problem is that such people add nothing new to us. Because they see the world the same way we do, they do not challenge us or make us grow. They may make our life comfortable, but such people do not make us better.

Iron on iron involves impact and friction. Such encounters are memorable. They are anything but comfortable. But they make a difference. Iron that has been sharpened is far more effective than iron that has been polished.

It takes humility to welcome iron into your life. Life will not always be comfortable. Our pride may take a beating. Some conversations may be painfully awkward. But when we leave those encounters we will be sharper and of more use to our Master.

What type of people have you gathered around yourself? Has your choice of friends been based on your comfort or your calling? Are you too insecure to invite people around you who will make you better? Do you need to gather more iron around you? Do you need to stop resenting it when people act like iron upon your life?

Few things are as unpleasant as a braggart. No one likes to listen to someone blow their own horn! Yet the truth is, we can all be tempted to pronounce to others what we have accomplished. It can seem immensely satisfying when those around us recognize our stellar achievements. But when we find ourselves boasting, we ought to immediately beware that something is amiss in our soul.

For one thing, boasting reveals that we believe our success is due to our own effort. It leaves God out. God does not share His glory with anyone. If we try to take the credit for what God has done in our lives, we are inviting God to set the record straight. Second, boasting reveals an inner desire for peoples’ recognition. It demonstrates that peoples’ opinion drives our behavior. The true servant of God is motivated by God’s opinion of their behavior. Third, boasting reflects self-centeredness. People who boast only want to talk about themselves, not about others. Yet a true servant of God is focused on God’s activity, not on their own. They seek to be a blessing to others, rather than having others constantly admiring them. Finally, boasting reveals a lack of trust in God for a reward. Boasters desire instant gratification. Why wait for the “Well done” of God when I can garner peoples’ praise today? So boasters shamelessly herald their accomplishments and savor every compliment. Sadly, they will have their reward in full. God will not bless someone who is intent on grasping his own reward. Far better to humbly obey what God assigns to us and then wait for our Lord and Master to recompense us as He sees fit. Monitor your mouth. Are you magnifying your God, or yourself?

It is human nature to take things for granted. We can blithely assume that life will always remain the same. We can behave as if everything in our world will continue just as we want it to. But such is not the case. Life offers many unexpected surprises along the way.

When we speak confidently about our plans for the future, we are acting as if we control events around us. Because we make our plans and projections, we behave as if the world will proceed according to our assumptions. But most seriously, we are living as if God is not sovereign over the circumstances of our life, and that is an incorrect assumption that can have devastating consequences.

God intends for us to live in total dependence upon Him. Unless we constantly abide in Christ, we can accomplish nothing (John 15:5). While we might know that in our head, we act as if what is most important is our own planning and goal setting. Our plans can become an idol to which we turn rather than placing our trust in God. When looking to the future, we can inadvertently speak more of our plans than about God’s guidance and provision. Beware of acting as if your future does not depend entirely upon God’s sovereign will. God has ways of abruptly reminding us that our future rests solely in His hands.

Few things are as seductive as flattery. That’s because we can all be susceptible to having our egos stroked. It is enjoyable to be told we are doing a great job. People naturally want to feel appreciated. Because of this, we must beware the flatterer.

Flatterers are people who praise you insincerely. They shower you with compliments, not because they believe what they are saying, but because they want something from you. Unfortunately, people can allow themselves to be manipulated in exchange for cheap trinkets of praise.

Leaders must particularly guard themselves from the flatterer. While it is nice to be told we are doing a stellar job, it is far more important that we be told the truth. Flatterers use words cheaply, not wisely. They shower you with empty chatter that bring harm rather than good. As delightful as it may seem to bask in others’ praise, to do so is to play with fire. Beware the one who constantly compliments you. Don’t let your guard down or your senses be dulled. You may be in far more danger from the flatterer than the one who rebukes you. If you are susceptible to flattery, examine your heart. Why is it you are addicted to the praise of others?

Some people bring peace everywhere they go. Their kind demeanor and their gentle, soothing words, have a way of calming people’s passions and stilling the storms raging around them. But then there are others. It seems that conflict and division follow them wherever they go. They are always in the midst of a struggle or argument. Someone is constantly upset with them. They are continually angered at others.

These people can explain the troubles in which they are forever embroiled. People are trying to mistreat them. Someone unjustly attacked them. Others are trying to exploit them. To hear it from them, these people are always innocent. Yet despite their vehement protests of purity, something seems amiss.

The one common denominator in all of the conflict that surrounds the contentious people is the people themselves! They are always experiencing conflict. While others cooperate amiably, the contentious person seems to always find a way to stir up strife. Sadly, though they may be involved in dozens of conflicts, such people rarely recognize that they are the problem. They are convinced of their innocence. And, because they do not believe they are at fault, they do not change their behavior. So their battles continue to rage on. Beware the contentious person. They will bring conflict with them wherever they go.

Some people are spoiling for a fight. This occurs for diverse reasons. There are those who hate injustice. Some people despise fools. Others may feel compelled to assist their friends or those who are being mistreated. As a result, people can be quick to jump into the fray when they encounter a conflict. Nevertheless, however noble such behavior may appear, it is fraught with danger.

Wise people understand that quarrels tend to escalate. Once a battle is entered, it is not easily withdrawn from. If we are careless, we can find ourselves mired in conflict that consumes our energy and attention. Much time and resources can be squandered while we seek to resolve conflicts. It can be like holding a dog by its ears. The animal may be furious with us, but as long as we strenuously hold it at arms length, we are relatively safe. But woe to the one who releases the hound! So we are stuck. As unpleasant as our present situation is, it is now impossible to let go and walk away.

Before you enter a battle that is not yours, take time to carefully consider the consequences. Are you prepared for a long, drawn out conflict? Is this really the battle you in which  are willing to invest yourself fully, over a prolonged period of time? Are you really needed for this issue? Or, could it be best, in this case, for you to simply pass on by?

It can be extremely difficult to remain quiet. Especially when a fool has just spoken. Fools often pontificate, even though their words are mere babbling. They like to make pronouncements to gain peoples’ attention. Some enjoy giving the appearance of having thought deeply on a matter. Others are merely scoffers who love to belittle others. Such people pollute the air with their speech.

It would be easy to refute such people and their flimsy facts. Such empty-headed loudmouths need to be taken down a notch, and a wise person, brimming with facts, could easily do it. But there is a problem.

Fools are not speaking because they are seeking knowledge, but because they crave attention. They did not voice their opinion so others could help them become better informed. They spoke so they would have an audience. If you refute them or argue with them, you give them exactly what they want. They will not change or be improved by your discourse, but you will be tarnished. You will also have wasted your time, for the fool will remain the same after he has argued with you.

Be aware of wasting your time on fools. They will rob you of your time and peace of mind and give nothing in return. Size people up to see if they are open to feedback or just looking for an audience. You may feel better for a moment after having rebuked a fool, but you will find that in the process, you were brought down to his level.