Gordon Dahl in Work, Play and Worship in a Leisure-Oriented Society wrote: "Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values are distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair, and their lifestyles resemble a class of characters in search of a plot." He was right!

I suspect a careful and honest evaluation of our lives would reveal a similar problem with our own priorities. Things which are not all that important are allowed to become the driving forces of life. Things that really are important are set aside, and often wholly forgotten. Every so often, however, something happens that causes us to reassess our values. It may be illness, the sudden death of a friend, an accident, or a financial setback. Whatever it is, it reminds us that the things we thought were so important yesterday, really weren't all that important after all!

When you get to the heart of the matter, the thing that matters most is our preparation for eternity. That is precisely what Jesus was emphasizing when He asked, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or, what shall a man give In exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).

When it comes time to die, and that time is coming for all of us, we had better be prepared. But that can't happen if our priorities are misplaced.

In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus urged His disciples not to get too wrapped up in the things of this world. He admonished: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). The God who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds, will provide for His own. I can offer no better advice for here and hereafter than to encourage you to "seek first the Kingdom.'' That is the first priority of life. — Copied

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests. We have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

It is the staff’s opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the types of enterprise you are undertaking. They don’t have the team concept.

We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter may be emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interests above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. The talents and accomplishments of James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, are minimal at best.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contact in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and officer of your company. He would be well-suited in auditing accounts and supervising the financial affairs of the corporation.

All of the other profiles are self explanatory. We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants

(Real leadership potential is often missed in the eyes of men; but always caught by God’s insight into the heart. And rightly so, because He placed it there.) — Adapted

Original Submitted by
Charles & Joan Tostige

A farmer left his son to plow a large field, instructing him to plow out to the peach trees and to try to finish the job by the end of the day.

When the farmer returned that evening, he discovered that his son had plowed all the way out to the road, far beyond the peach trees. It was almost twice the amount of work he had expected his son to do. When he asked his son about it, the boy replied, “Dad, I plowed out to the peach trees because you told me to. But I plowed on out to the road because I wanted to.”

The wanted to in this boy’s response is the language of genuine love. Only the love of Christ within us can compel us to go beyond the requirements and give more than expected. Christians should pray daily for the love of Christ to direct us in all our dealings with others. “And whoever compels you to go one mile,” Jesus taught, “go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41)

Copied from Central’s Bulletin
Original from Bulletin Digest