Get the appWiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample
Work Ethic: Build your reputation
A friend of mine had a T-shirt that read, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself years ago.” Ain’t that the truth! And it’s true not only of health issues but sex, money, and crime as well. Mistakes and sins of the past never go away, and many come ’round to bite us later.
Maybe you had friends from boot camp who were easy prey for all of the car dealers and furniture stores eager to extend them credit at their first duty station. They racked up all kinds of debt, and now their credit is trashed. Because of their reputation, no bank will lend them a dime. If you suffer a jewelry theft or if you total your car, those things can be replaced. If you ruin your reputation, you will find that it is ten times harder to restore.
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Tell the truth. Pay your bills. Live within your means. Keep your word. Do what you say you’re going to do. Wait until you can afford it.
But what if you’ve made mistakes in the past? What if your credit is trashed right now? Well, give thanks to God, because you have a golden opportunity to get some of your reputation back. You’re getting a little extra pay while you’re deployed. You don’t have nearly as many chances to blow money as you do at home. Save up. You don’t need those snacks from the PX every night.
Do I sound like your father? I do? Thank you!
A friend of mine had a T-shirt that read, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself years ago.” Ain’t that the truth! And it’s true not only of health issues but sex, money, and crime as well. Mistakes and sins of the past never go away, and many come ’round to bite us later.
Maybe you had friends from boot camp who were easy prey for all of the car dealers and furniture stores eager to extend them credit at their first duty station. They racked up all kinds of debt, and now their credit is trashed. Because of their reputation, no bank will lend them a dime. If you suffer a jewelry theft or if you total your car, those things can be replaced. If you ruin your reputation, you will find that it is ten times harder to restore.
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Tell the truth. Pay your bills. Live within your means. Keep your word. Do what you say you’re going to do. Wait until you can afford it.
But what if you’ve made mistakes in the past? What if your credit is trashed right now? Well, give thanks to God, because you have a golden opportunity to get some of your reputation back. You’re getting a little extra pay while you’re deployed. You don’t have nearly as many chances to blow money as you do at home. Save up. You don’t need those snacks from the PX every night.
Do I sound like your father? I do? Thank you!
Scripture
About this Plan
The experience of serving your country overseas--and sometimes seeing firsthand man’s inhumanity to man--may teach you important lessons about life while turning your stomach at the same time. But recognize that God has an even better way for us to learn life wisdom, a way that continually draws us closer to him no matter how far from family or church we might be. Because of his great love for us, he would much rather make us wiser through words. In this way we wouldn’t be sadder but wiser; we would be wiser and happier. The Bible’s book of Proverbs is an absolute gold mine of wisdom for the daily decisions you must make. It will help you develop your personal values and tune your life’s agenda more closely to resemble God’s.
More
We would like to thank Time of Grace Ministry for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.timeofgrace.org
