A quote often attributed to Abraham Lincoln says, "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four hours sharpening the axe." Yet we live in a time when everyone seems to be more concerned with how quickly they can cut down their own tree than with whether their axe is sharp enough to get the job done. This reflects the intense pressure to perform that many of us face every day. When I speak of the pressure to perform, I am not referring only to workplace demands, but to the pressure we experience in our personal lives to produce visible results. Pressure can be a good thing when it is properly managed. It can motivate us to grow, improve, and reach our goals. However, when left unchecked, it can become destructive. One of the surest ways to manage the pressure to perform is by refusing to let the success of others become a source of unhealthy pressure in your own life. If you allow that to happen, you do yourself a great disservice. It is only natural to...
In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (2Tim.2:20-21) Men look at the use of a vessel, but God looks at its value. Wooden and earthen vessels in a house may appear more useful than gold and silver vessels, but the gold and silver vessels are far more valuable. God’s point of view, His regard is not for use; it is for value. It is not performance that brings the glory of God, it is value. How do you bring about this value? Start by fixing your Love walk Love is the halmark of our Christian faith Love for God and people is what attracts the glory of God upon a man and makes the man valuable. In a previous article I wrote I shared my thoughts on Paul and Silas’ experienc...