The Power Of Reason

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Proverbs 20:3

A COMPANY WAS CONVERTING TO a group medical plan that required 100 percent participation. Everyone signed up, except for one employee. He refused. His friends and coworkers tried to convince him to sign up, but to no avail. Finally, his boss visited him and told him either to sign up or be fired. He signed up. His friends asked him what made the difference. He replied, “The boss explained it in a way I could understand.”

Solomon reminded us that honor exists in doing what is right. Anyone can take the path of least resistance. Anyone can give in to pressure. It takes a strong person to take the difficult choice and make the right decision.

Studies have shown that an immediate health effect will make more people change a habit than some distant threat. In other words, the more real and pressing the consequences, the greater the chance of change. That’s why when confronted with the reality of death, people will stop smoking, lose weight, and start exercising.

Our bad habits, though often pleasurable, may be the reason we are not achieving the results we long for. We need a strong reason like health, success, better relationships, and, most important, the glory of God to ditch a bad habit.

Let the hope of a better future motivate you.

BOTTOM LINE

Are the things you’re doing leading you to where you want to go? What do you need to change? Where do you need to look for motivation?

Moment of Strength: Proverbs 3:1-2