Hard Work versus Talent

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

I remember my pastor making the statement that "the problem with our young people many times is that they want to start at the top." Oh how true that statement is! Sometimes it is true of the "not-so-young" as well.

It is easy to see people who have reached a place that we call successful and be envious. What is not apparent at a first glance is the hard work it took for that person to reach the place where they are today. When we see someone with a doctorate degree we don't see the many hours of study, class time, research, and paper writing they put into that degree. It represents more than a title. It speaks of hard work.

The same can be said of a musician or a singer. When we hear a lovely recital we don't think about the long hours of practice it took for us to hear a four minute song. The person may have been born with talent but that talent had to be developed. I have know some gifted, talented young singers who flaunted their God given abilities and thought they didn't need to improve. Today they are not singing. Why? Because talent is only part of the picture. Dedication, hard work, faithfulness, and courage to continue will trump talent every time.

I am often asked, "how long will it take me to learn Spanish". The question is not an easy one to answer. It really depends on the person. Some are more linguistically gifted than others, no doubt. But the bottom line is this: How much are you willing to put into it? I have been studying and speaking Spanish since the age of 16 and I am now 36 years old. For me it has never been about "how quickly can I learn to speak." It has been a passion for learning that drove me onward. Though I will never speak like a native speaker I am comfortable with the language. Yet there will always be more to learn. I never want to feel as if I have arrived.

Is there something you'd like to be able to do? A job you want? Think about it this way. If you were given that position today, would you be able to do it well? If not, how can you prepare yourself? What skills do you need? What discipline do you lack in your life that would make you a good _______. I dare say if you prepare yourself the door will open. But one thing is certain. If you are not prepared the door will never open. I have the job I have today, not because of the education I have, but because of long hours of study and practice and making myself available to the Hispanic Community. Over the years that translated into experience that got me a job. It didn't happen overnight but it did happen.

It is God's will for us to be content and prosperous and doing what we love. If you have a desire to do something, don't hesitate. Start today and try. It may not happen over night but you never know what the end result will be.

Yours in Christ's Service,

Sullivan Jones

The Cycle of Offense

II Timothy 2:24

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.

 

We live in a world that is more full of strife than it ever has been. It seems that people are so full of anger. They are angry about things that they can not control. Life has a way of being merciless. It has well been noted that hurting people hurt other people in turn. When we are angry we can quickly spill our anger out onto someone else without realizing what we are doing. That person then carries the anger inside until the time is right to spew it out onto someone else. The cycle of offense then continues ...

 

I was in a restaurant last night where the service was pretty terrible. As we approached the restaurant our server of choice was walking up the road away from the restaurant. I don't know if she quit or what. The young lady that was serving us was having a difficult time. The people at our table kept having to ask for the rest of their food; The orders came out with items missing.  You get the picture.

 

I realized at one point that I could either create a scene or be kind. I asked the server if she was doing alright. Her response was "no" with a voice that was kind but very overwhelmed. She told me that a waitress had left and they were very short handed.  I felt my heart go out to her. Perhaps it was her fault that the food was wrong. Perhaps it was the managers fault or the cooks fault. Perhaps it was just a bad night. I don't know. But I realized that I had a choice to either make this young lady's night better or worse. We tried to be as kind as possible and eventually she got the food right. When we left we told her that she did a great job and we tried to leave a good tip.

 

The service wasn't the best but she was doing her best.  I would rather she went home feeling good about herself than even more disgusted because I was rude to her. I'm not patting myself on the back. There are plenty of times when I have not been near as gracious as I should have in similar situations. But I have asked God to help me learn to be more patient. "For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you". (Matthew 7:2)

 

Lord, help us to be more caring and not so quick to strive. The world needs all the love we can give. In Jesus name, Amen.  

 

Graciously,

 

Pastor Jones

What is a Nobleman?

Acts 10: 10-11
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews/
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The Apostle Paul was known for starting riots everywhere that he went. It wasn't his intention, it seemed that trouble just seemed to follow him. In those days Christianity was in its infancy. There were many who wanted to snuff out this fledgling "religious movement" because they felt that it threatened their traditions. It hadn't been that long since Paul himself had changed sides. After his conversion he often found himself on the wrong side of the mob.

Thessalonica was no exception. When he came into Thessalonica he began to preach. It wasn't long before he had quite a group of believers. Acts 17:4 says that a great multitude of devout Greeks and many of the chief woman believed what he was saying. This naturally didn't sit well with the religious leaders who saw their control over the people slipping away. Before long another riot ensued and Paul and Silas had to flee by night unto Berea.

Here is where things get interesting. The Bible says of the Bereans that they were more "noble" than the people in Thessalonica  and received the word with readiness of mind searching the scriptures to see the truth in the matter. When something new is preached to us there will always be one of at least two reactions. Either we can reject the truth that we hear or we can have an open mind to search the scriptures for the truth of the matter.

The Bible calls those who will search the scriptures and accept was is written therein "noble." To be noble means to be royalty. This tells us how God views us when we are willing to accept and do our best to live by his word. One can be a pauper but if he accepts the truths of scripture, in God's eyes he is a nobleman. I want it to be said of me that I was "more noble." I want the blessings of God on my life, don't you?