Probably one of the lowest-budgeted commercials of Super Bowl XLIV, but clearly the best of the night.
Simple and poignant. Bravo, Google.
Search on.
Author: Nick (Page 16 of 24)
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings.
-Proverbs 22:29 (HCSB)
When it comes to the success/career department, we love to make excuses, don’t we? We often try to justify ourselves by piling on the “reasons” we are where we are. I’m no exception, unfortunately.
A common one seems to be, “If I only had this, I could do that.” And what happens when we actually get “this”? Do you gain instant credibility? Do you skyrocket up the corporate totem pole? No, it usually just exposes us to news areas where we feel insecure. The bar is reset, the excuses start rolling again, and the cycle continues.
Simply put, excellence breeds success, not excuses.
I know that idea sounds more like something used to pump up a basketball team, but it really is the essence of this proverb. Solomon’s point: You want to be a success? You want to be proud of what you do? You want to stand in the presence of the best? Then do your job. Do it well, do it right, and do it now.
If you’re a teacher, teach with passion. If you’re a banker, deal with integrity. If you’re a carpenter, work with precision. If you’re a dairy farmer, pump that milk with the best of ’em. If you’re a janitor, mop those floors like nobody’s business.
Whatever you do, master your craft.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
-Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)
Here Solomon provides us with an unusual paradox: If you want to become richer, give.
This seems odd at first glance and is certainly contrary to the “more, more, more” attitude of the world today. We are taught that life is all about making the big bucks. Make as much as you can so that you can own as much as you can. We’re even told that you’ve got to have money to make money. So why in the world would Solomon offer this seemingly backward and financially-hurtful advice?
Simply put, God wants to bless us, and he is especially generous to those who are generous first. And we’re not just talking about money here — it can be things like your time and energy as well.
Want to know the secret to becoming rich? Give. Because the more we give, the more God gives back as well, allowing us to give more again and the cycle to continue.
It may not make mathematical sense, but you’ve got to give to gain.
One of my newest, favorite bands (The Almost) covering one of my oldest, favorite Christmas songs (“Little Drummer Boy”).
Merry Christmas.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
-Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
The question is: What’s in a name? Well, a lot apparently.
The sheer mention of someone or something’s name can evoke all kinds of thoughts and images, both positive and negative. For example, if you have an older brother/sister you know what I’m talking about. You walk into the first day of class at school and your new teacher says, “Are you so-and-so’s brother/sister? Oh, he/she was one of my BEST students!” Awesome. No pressure now, huh?
Take it to another level: Barak Obama, Brett Farve, Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Billy Graham. Ask people the first word they think of in response to those names and you’ll get answers from all over the spectrum.
Simply put, names have power. Lots of it.
In Proverbs 18:10, the ever-so-wise Solomon tells us that the mere name of the Lord is a strong tower — a shield, a refuge, a fortress. And that makes sense. If a regular human’s name holds all that weight, good and bad, that comes with it, think of how God’s name would compare. It’s going to be immeasurably more powerful than anything a human could put up against it.
I think it’s interesting that when something traumatic happens, the average person’s immediate response, Christian or not, will be “Oh my God” — a cry for help. Of course, some of the reasoning for that is a cultural thing, and oftentimes it’s even borderline blasphemous. But it still makes me wonder if there’s something deep down inside us, some intrinsic nature, where we simply know that there are times in our lives when being in God’s presence is the only sure thing, the only truly safe place for us in times of sorrow. In other words, it’s almost as if we were designed that way…
So, what do we do when “the storms of life are raging” (to quote the Kutless song on this very verse)? We run to him, the strong tower. How beautiful it is to know that the Lord’s name provides all the safety we need.
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