Refreshing

Daily
in God’s Word
Emphasis on

Common Sense
 Wisdom
July 1

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:7-13

 Key Verse: Verse 7 - "Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding."
Key Words: Wisdom is the principal thing

Some say that wisdom is nothing more than common

sense. I would disagree with that. First of all, Godly wisdom
isn’t common. Look around today and you will not find a lot
of people with Godly wisdom. Secondly, Godly wisdom
doesn’t always make sense. For example, God told Joshua to
have the Israelites march around Jericho once a day and on
the seventh day march around seven times, shout and the
priest will blow his trumpet and the walls will fall down. Now,
to the human mind that doesn’t make sense, does it?
Godly wisdom is putting Biblical knowledge (God’s
Word) into action. The result of that will be deciding what
friends we make in life. It will determine our business
choices. It will decide whom we marry and how we bring up
our children. It will decide what we believe and how we
behave.
“With all thy getting…” That phrase sums up the
lifestyle of millions of people today. Life can degenerate into
an endless round of getting. Such was the life of the rich fool.
He was a competent businessman and an able farmer. He had
had an outstanding year. He was sitting up in bed
congratulating himself and making plans for business
expansion and early retirement. His plans for the future
included having a rip-roaring good time, but Jesus said he
was a fool. The farmer had made every provision to get, but
no provision to go. “God said unto him, Thou fool, this night
thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those
things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20) “With all
thy getting get understanding,” Solomon said.
 So today we need more than common sense; we need
Godly wisdom.

What to do:
✞II Timothy 2:15, “Study to
shew thyself approved unto God.”

********************

Common Sense About Rules

July 2

 Bible Reading: Philippians 3:13-21

 Key Verse: Verse 16 – "Nevertheless, whereto we
have already attained, let us walk by the same
rule, let us mind the same thing."
Key Words: let us walk by the same rule

Let me be one of the few to say, I L-O-V-E R-U-L-E-S.

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, I said it and I’ll say it
again. I love rules. Now, there is a stipulation to my love for
rules. The rules must have some rhyme and reason to them.
But rules are everywhere you go, you can’t get away from
them. I went to a fast food restaurant the other day and
posted on the door was a sign that read, “No shirt, no shoes,
no service.” Inside the restaurant there was a sign that read,
“No breaking in line, please,” and yet another sign which read,
“No checks accepted.” By the way, all three rules make sense
to me. “No shirt, no shoes, no service” is for health safety
(Health Dept. regulations). “No breaking in line” is common
courtesy. “No checks” is a safe business practice, considering
that one out of every four checks is a bad check. There is
another restaurant which advertises that they have no rules.
Why, that’s not true. A new magazine show put their “no
rules” advertisement to the test. The reporter went to a local
fast food restaurant (McDonald’s), bought a meal and went
down to the “no rules” restaurant and walked in with no
shoes, his McDonald’s meal, and asked for a seat. When he
was asked what he would like to order, he replied, “Nothing. I
just came here to eat my McDonald’s meal.” He was promptly
escorted out. When he inquired as to why, he was told he
must have shoes and he must order a meal – restaurant
regulations, he was told. So much for no rules.
Why, God Himself has given us rules.
 There is a rule for salvation. John 3:16. The rule is if
you don’t believe, you won’t be saved.
 There is a rule for having a good day. I Peter 3:10.
 There are rules for having your prayers answered.
Psalm 66:18, I Peter 3:7, James 1:5-7, James 4:3.

No, I said I love rules and I do. I love them for three
primary reasons.
 They give unity. Philippians 3:16.
 They protect (by weeding out the insincere and the
rebellious, the mavericks). Philippians 3:16-17.
 They give structure and organization. I Timothy,
chapter 1, is filled with structure and organization.

I am firmly convinced that rules (in the context of this

article) do not make one rebellious, rules simply reveal the
rebellion which is there. Oh yes, I do love rules. How about
you?

What to do:
✞Let the Lord rule your life. Not all rules are bad.

********************

Common Sense About

Rules, Part Two
July 3

 Bible Reading: James 4:1-7

 Key Verse: Verse 7 – "Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
 Key Words: Submit yourselves
I draw your attention to verse 7 and the word submit.
It is not a popular word for our day of “no rules, just rights”
which seems to be the philosophy of our day and it is catching
on rapidly. I heard of a pastor of another denomination,
“Baptist are laden down with rules. If you are sick of rules,
come on over and join us, we don’t care about rules, we just
care about worship.” That statement is not only “high-
minded,” it is unbiblical.
The word rules in the Bible comes from the Hebrew
word “maschal.” It means to control or to umpire. Can you
imagine a sporting event such as football, basketball or
baseball with no rules? It would be total anarchy. Can you
imagine driving to work with no rules to guide us on the
highway? (If you think it is pleasant, visit Brazil. Hundreds
of people die daily because of no highway rules.)
The Bible gives us all kinds of rules in order that our
worship of God may be organized and glorifying to God (see I
Corinthians 14:40). Let me share some of the rules with you.

1. The rule of giving (I Cor. 16:2).

2. The rule for spiritually feeding the flock (I Pet. 5:2-7).
3. The rule of church discipline (Matt. 18:15-20).
4. The rule of dress (I Tim. 2:9).
5. The rule of faithfulness (I Cor. 4:2 and Heb. 10:25).
6. The rule for music (Col. 3:16).
7. The rule for unity (Ephes. 4:3).
8. The rule for righteousness (Titus 3:1-2).
9. The rule for deaconship (I Tim. 3:8-13).
10. The rule for pastors (I Tim. 3:1-7).

And the list goes on and on. No rules, just rights!

What a humanistic, worldly, unbiblical statement!

What to do:
✞The problem with some people is they have no rule
over their spirit (Proverbs 25:28).
 Discretion
July 4

 Bible Reading: Psalm 112

 Key Verse: 5 – "A good man sheweth favour, and
lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion."
Key Words: he will guide his affairs with
discretion

Discretion is being wise in how we handle situations.

It’s not making public private matters.
There are certain things that should be handled in
private. For example, if you know of people’s financial affairs,
that’s private information. Keep it private. We have a
Christian school and our teachers know a student’s
weaknesses. That’s private; use discretion. I’ve got a saying
that goes, “Because it’s true doesn’t give you a right to share it
with others. Use discretion."
On the other hand, if we know that someone is a
danger to others, we should make sure we tell those who are
the proper authorities. That, as well, is discretion.
Frank M. Garafola hit the nail on the head in regard to
discretion when he said, “The difference between a smart man
and a man of discretion is that a smart man knows what to
say, a man of discretion knows whether or not to say it.
The three-fold test of discretion.

1) If I say it in public, will it humiliate them?

2) If I say it in public, will it glorify God?
3) If I say it in public, will it be a stumbling block to
others?

If any of the three, you answer yes, then don’t!!

What to do:
 ✞Remember, I'm often sorry for what I say; I'm
seldom sorry for what I don't.
Common Sense and the Tongue
July 5

 Bible Reading: Leviticus 19:16-22

 Key Verse: Verse 16 – "Thou shalt not go up and down
as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou
stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the
LORD."
Key Words: Thou shalt not go up and down as a
talebearer among thy people

The Navy during World War II had a saying, “Loose

lips sink ships.” But even more important than that were
those lives lost and people hurt because of someone’s loose
lips. The average person doesn’t know how to carry on an
intelligent conversation. Most conversation consists of
gossip, talebearing, and murmuring. What a shame! What a
sin!
John Wesley wrote the following six guidelines for his
talk and conversation. We would do well to apply them to our
lives.
1) That I will not intentionally listen to or inquire after
any ill concerning others.
2) That, if I do hear ill concerning others, I will not be in
a hurry to believe it.
3) That I will get all of my facts before I render a
decision.
4) That I will not write or speak a syllable of any ill to any
other person other than the one whom it concerns.
5) That neither will I mention it to another person as to
what I’ve done.
6) That I will not let gossip, talebearing and murmuring
be named among my sins.
A woman who earned her living for more than 40
years by going about her neighborhood cleaning house for
others was asked how it was she was so well-liked by everyone
for whom she worked. She replied, “I make it a practice never
to repeat what I hear with anyone.” Amen!
“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among
thy people.”

What to do:
✞Remember, loose lips are costly for you and others.

********************

Where Common Sense Begins

July 6

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:1-9

 Key Verse: Verse 7 – "The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom
and instruction."
Key Words: The fear of the Lord

Everything has a beginning. The heavens and the

earth have a beginning (Genesis 1:1). There is the beginning
of a new year (Deuteronomy 11:12) and so it goes. But there is
also the beginning of knowledge. The word knowledge means
to become aware of …becoming aware that everything begins
with the fear of the Lord. Where you find no fear of God, you
find ignorance in abundance.
Burghardt DuBois, the great black educator,
sociologist, and historian, upon completion of studies at Fisk,
Harvard and the University of Berlin, was convinced that
change in the condition of the American black could be
effected by careful scientific investigations into the truth
about the black in America. So he proceeded. His research
was flawless and his graphs and charts impeccable. After
waiting several years and hearing not the slightest stir of
reform, Dr. DuBois had to accept the truth about Truth: its
being available does not mean it will be appropriated.
 And so it is with knowledge! It’s available; but seldom
appropriated. That begins when we fear the Lord.

What to do:
✞If we talk about knowledge but do not fear the Lord,
then that’s all we do is talk, not live with knowledge.

********************

Common Sense About

Invitations
July 7

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:10-19

 Key Verse: Verse 11 – "If they say, Come with us, let
us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the
innocent without cause:"
Key Words: Come with us

How many invitations do you receive each year, and

even more important than that, how many of those invitations
do you accept? Do you have guidelines for invitations,
accepted or rejected?
Here are some questions I would ask before letting my
children accept an invitation.
Who is the invitation from?
Where is the invitation to?
What is the invitation for?
Who will be at the event?
Also common sense demands that we be as consistent
as possible. If you accept one person’s invitation and reject
another person’s, this could cause a little contention and
jealousy. Do your best to be consistent. That’s just good old
common sense.
It’s very obvious from our Bible reading that there are
some invitations we need to avoid and some we need to
accept.
 Did you know that years ago even church invitations
(altar calls) were frowned upon?
Can you imagine church members protesting an
invitation after an evangelistic sermon? They did in 1825.
Not only did church members object to an invitation, but so
did many of the ministers. A new evangelist named Charles
Finney had come on to the religious scene in America and had
become quite popular by 1825. He was reaching many
Americans with the gospel by implementing what grumbling
critics called New Measures. Among these intolerable
changes were: praying for persons by name, having an
invitation after the sermon, sharing the gospel by visiting in
homes, allowing women to pray and testify, holding services
on days other than the usual times for worship, and preaching
in an informal manner that appealed to those who attended
his outlandish new idea of holding Revival Services. Finney
was perceived as a radical troublemaker in 1825, but his
wrong approach brought many to Christ. Change is usually
threatening, yet its results can often be tremendous.
So not all invitations are bad…but be advised, apply good old
common sense.

What to do:
✞In accepting and rejecting invitations, common
sense needs to be applied.

********************

Common Sense of Discernment

July 8

 Bible Reading: Job 6:15-30

 Key Verse: Verse 30 – "Is there iniquity in my tongue?
cannot my taste discern perverse things?"
Key Words: cannot my taste discern perverse
things
 Discernment is the ability to detect and identify real
truth and act upon it. This reminds me of an old Persian
proverb.
“He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not,
is a fool; shun him.
“He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a
child; teach him.
“He who knows and knows not that he knows is
asleep; wake him.
“He who knows and knows that he knows is wise;
follow him.”
Discernment would rather stay home at night and read
a good book than go out with the wrong crowd. Discernment
would rather do right and realize that the reward lies ahead
than do wrong and have immediate attention and popularity.
Discernment would rather be called boring and drive safely
than be accepted for misbehavior behind the wheel.
Discernment thinks of what is honest, rather than what
benefits “me” personally.
A lack of discernment reveals one of two things:
1. either the one who lacks discernment is not saved, or
2. they are spiritually immature (read I Corinthians 2:14-
16).
A Christian without discernment is like a pilot
attempting to land a loaded 747 in a dense fog without
instruments or radio: lots of noise, power and good
intentions...until...oh, well, you get the picture.
Do you really want discernment but don’t know where
to find it?

1. Go to your knees. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack

wisdom let his ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given
him.”
2. Go to the Word of God. Psalms 119:98-107 says,
“Thou through thy commandments hast made me
wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I
have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy
 testimonies are my meditation. I understand more
than the ancients because I keep thy precepts.”
3. Go to the wise. Discernment is better caught than
taught. Those who have it are highly contagious.

Now go on, get discernment and act upon it. You’ll be

better off for it.

What to do:
✞ Apply the three principles found in the devotion for
today.

********************

Common Sense About Being

Teachable
July 9

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:1-13

 Key Verse: Verse 11 – "I have taught thee in the
way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths."
Key Words: I have taught thee

It’s our responsibility to teach our children, but at

some point they bear the responsibility of being teachable.
Many people have a GPS system in their car. The
Global Positioning System has the ability to tell a driver where
they are or give them directions to where they want to go. It
has a voice so it’s audible and it has a screen so it is visible. It
displays a red dot on the screen to show your current location
and allows the driver to watch their progress toward their
intended destination. The voice comes on and gives direction,
telling the driver where to turn, merge, or stop and provides
clear instruction of how the driver can get to their intended
destination.
I was in the car one day with a guy who had a GPS and
he had punched in his intended destination. We’re riding
along and he was following the word. The word said turn
right and he’d turn right. The word said turn left and he’d
turn left. He brought his driving in line with the word and
therefore was making progress to his intended destination.
After a while, he decided to try a little experiment. He
decided to see what happened if he didn’t pay attention and if
he disregarded the instructions from his GPS. So he decided
to “lean to his own understanding.” He decided to try the way
of man rather than the way of the system. So when the GPS
system said turn right, he didn’t slow down. He kept going
straight and totally disregarded the word that had been
spoken from the visual display. After he passed the exit that
the GPS told him to take, the screen popped off. There was no
longer any picture and no longer any word. There was no
longer any direction because he was now doing things his way.
After we had driven for a while in rebellion to the system, the
picture came back on with the red dot showing our errant
ways and how we had wandered from the path. Then the
voice came on and said, “If you would like to return to your
previous location, then get off at the next exit, go under the
expressway, get back up on the expressway, and I will lead you
back to where you went wrong.”

What to do:
✞Be teachable!!

********************

Common Sense About

Credibility
July 10

 Bible Reading: Matthew 5:31-37

 Key Verse: Verse 37 - "But let your communication
be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than
these cometh of evil."
 Key Words: let your communication be, Yea, yea;
Nay, nay

March 11, 1942, was a dark desperate day in the Pacific

Theater. The atmosphere was dark and bleak and the threat
of war loomed overhead, the enemy now marching toward the
Philippines as confident as the star band in the Rose Bowl
Parade. Surrender for our soldiers was inevitable. The
brilliant and bold soldier, Douglas MacArthur, had only three
words for his comrades as he stepped into the escape boat
destined for Australia: I shall return.
Upon arriving nine days later in the port of Adelaide,
the sixty-two-year-old military statesman closed his remarks
with this sentence: I came through and I shall return.
A little over 2 1/2 years later -- October 20, 1944, to be
exact -- he stood once again on Philippine soil after landing
safely at Leyte Island. This is what he said: “This is the voice
of freedom, General MacArthur speaking. People of the
Philippines: I have returned!”
MacArthur kept his word. His word was as good as his
bond. This was a rare breed of man, almost extinct today.
Let me ask you, do you believe what the used car
salesman is telling you? Why not? Do you believe what the
mechanic is saying? Why not? Why do we get second
opinions from doctors? Do you believe what pastors say? It is
called a lack of credibility.
Jurors often have reason to doubt the testimony of the
witness. Parents doubt the word of children. Teachers doubt
the word of their class. The class doubts the word of the
teacher. The child doubts the word of their parents.
Credibility!!!
Note what the Scriptures say. Ephesians 4:25,
“Wherefore put away lying, speak every man the truth with his
neighbor; for we are members one of another.” John 8:32,
“And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you
free.”
When you reply, “Yes, I will pray for you.” Do you?
When you say, “I’ll be there at a particular time.” Are you?
When you promise a commitment, do you fulfill it? It is called
credibility! Let’s be credible, people! Amen!
What to do:
✞Be credible. It just makes for good common sense.

********************

Common Sense About

Flattery
July 11

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 7:5-23

 Key Verse: Verse 5 – "That they may keep thee from
the strange woman, from the stranger which
flattereth with her words."
Key Words: which flattereth with her words

There is a certain kind of wasp that stings spiders. It'll

sting a spider and its sting will paralyze the spider for a few
moments. The female wasp will then lay her eggs in the
abdomen of the spider. So this spider now has in its belly eggs
of a wasp and the spider has no idea.
After the spider regains its ability to move, sooner or
later, it will begin doing what spiders do. It will make a web.
After ten days, the eggs in the abdomen of the spider will
begin to secrete a substance that causes the spider to stop
making the web and start making a cocoon.
Spiders don’t make cocoons. That’s not what spiders
do. But because this foreign element that has been introduced
to it by the female wasp, it is now acting unnaturally. It’s
making a cocoon. When the cocoon is near finished, it’s time
for life to come from the egg. That life comes from the eggs,
kills the spider, and the baby wasps live in the cocoon that
should’ve never been made in the first place – except that a
female wasp got ahold of the spider.
Today we have a whole generation of young people
who are being filled with the “poison” of flattery which when
fallen for will destroy a life. Think about it!!
What to do:
✞Remember that flattery is
like homemade soap, 90% “lye.”
 Common Sense About Sundays
July 12
 Bible Reading: Revelation 1:1-11
 Key Verse: Verse 10 – "I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of
a trumpet,"
Key Words: I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day

Sunday is the primary day set aside for the assembling

together of the church for the purpose of preaching,
fellowship, and encouraging one another. Now granted, we
should be willing to do these things on a daily basis (Acts
2:41-47); but Sunday is our primary day of assembling
together, because Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of
the week (John 20:1). It is the only day ever referred to as the
Lord’s day in regard to the church. In Revelation 1:10a John
said, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day.”
Sunday is set aside for a day of worship, praise, and
rejoicing in and for the things of God–not a day of rest, that is
the Sabbath or Saturday. It is not beach day, it is the Lord’s
day. It is not called mountain day, it is the Lord’s day. It’s not
called family reunion day, it is the Lord’s day. It is not
recreation day, but the Lord’s day. It’s not family day, but the
Lord’s day.
The word day means 24 hours. So it is not just the
Lord’s day from 10:00 A.M. to noon, or 11:00 A.M. to noon. It
is all day.
We are told in I Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day
of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God
hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come.” Two observations from this verse: #1) the first day of
the week is Sunday, and #2) how can you give on the first day
of the week if you’re not there?
In Acts 20:7 we read, “And upon the first day of the
week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight.”
Now, we’ve only touched the hem of the garment in
regard to “Sunday” and our assembling together. A thorough
study of God’s Word is very revealing about God’s desire for
us on that day. I trust you will make the assembling of
yourselves a priority for you and your family on the Lord’s
day.

What to do:
✞Apply Hebrews 10:25.

********************

Common Sense About Honesty

July 13

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 11:1-9

 Key Verse: Verse 1 – "A false balance is abomination
to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight."
Key Words: A false balance is abomination

A person of integrity takes personal delight in honest

business dealings.
A housewife went into the local food store and asked
the butcher for a chicken weighing four pounds. The butcher
had only one chicken left, and it weighed three pounds. “I’m
sorry,” said the woman, “It isn’t quite big enough. I will have
to go to another store.”
The butcher, who was dishonest and didn’t want to
lose a customer, stopped her and said, “Madam, I just
remembered that I may have one more chicken in the freezer.
Please wait one moment.” He took the three pound chicken to
the back, waited a short time, and returned still holding the
same chicken. “You’re in luck, Madam,” he said. “I found
another chicken.” He placed it on the scale weighing it and as
he did pressing his thumb on the scale to make it four
pounds. “There you are, Madam. Will you take this one?”
 The customer thought for a moment. “Tell you what,
Sir,” she said, “Since you were so helpful I will take both
chickens.”
The story makes us smile because we do not like to be
cheated and we like to think that the fraudulent merchant gets
caught at his own game. We agree that “a false balance is
abomination.”

What to do:
✞Understand that your sin will always be found out!!

********************

Common Sense About Integrity

July 14
 Bible Reading: Proverbs 20:1-9
 Key Verse: Verse 7 - "The just man walketh in his
integrity: his children are blessed after him."
Key Words: The just man walketh in his integrity

In Proverbs 20:7a we are told that, “The just man

walketh in his integrity.” The word integrity comes from the
Latin word integer. It’s a math term meaning whole number.
The idea behind integrity is that we are whole, that our walk
and talk are one. We do what we say we will do and we are
what we say we are. Today so many people freely attribute
integrity to others, but are you aware that in the entire Word
of God only three people were ever said to have integrity:
Abraham, David and Job. The reason so few people have
integrity is because of the pressure placed on them to lose
their integrity. For example, Job was attacked by Satan so he
would lose his integrity. Now integrity is not so much what I
say about myself as what others say and see about me.
I remember for one of my college final exams we had
twenty questions. Numbers one and twenty were blank but
numbers two through nineteen had questions out beside
them. The professor asked us verbally question number one,
“Do you have integrity?” Yes or no was the only acceptable
answer. Then he told us to answer questions two through
nineteen and turn our papers over on our desk. After
everyone was finished, he took our exams and then passed
them out and said, “Now look at the name on the exam you
have before you and look at question number one. If you
believe they were truthful about their integrity, give them five
points. If you believe they were untruthful, take five points
away. Integrity is not what you think of yourself, it is what
others see in you.”
Today, when others look at you, they’ll reach a
decision about your integrity. What decision will they reach?

What to do:
✞For the sake of your children, walk with integrity.

********************

Common Sense About Tact

July 15

 Bible Reading: Proverbs 15:18-23

 Key Verse: Verse 23 - "A man hath joy by the answer
of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how
good is it!"
Key Words: A word spoken in due season how
good it is

The right words said at the right time in the right way
are precious. Today the use of being tactful is almost a dead
art.
Wisely labeled “The Saving Virtue,” tact can grace our
life like the fragrance of a sweet-smelling rose. Tact is
appropriate, attractive, alluring, and appealing; but it is also
rare. Oh, so rare!
 Remember the teachers you had who lacked tact? You
wondered each day if this was going to be the day you were
singled out for humiliation.
Remember the salesman you encountered who lacked
tact and the only thing you wanted from him was to be far, far
away?
And who can forget the physician who did not consider
you a person, but instead you were Case 35? You were a body
with blood pressure 120/70, height 5’7”, weight 150, and you
need surgery immediately. All of this was spoken in
monotone while he stared at a brown folder stuffed with X-
rays and charts. Brilliant? Yes – but no tact.
Perhaps you heard about the wife who went on a long
trip which took her to New York, London, Paris, and Rome.
She called home one day to check on her poodle. When she
asked how he was, her husband bluntly blurted out, “Well, he
died.” “Well,” she said through her tears and shock, “you
didn’t have to say it so tactless.” “What should I have said?”
he asked. “You should have broken the news gently. When I
called from New York, you could have said, ‘The dog is on the
roof.’ The next day when I called from London, you could
have said, ‘He fell off the roof.’ The following day when I
called from Paris, you could have said, ‘The dog is at the vet’s
in the hospital,’ and finally, when I called from Rome, you
could have said, “Dear, the poodle didn’t make it.’” Then the
wife said, “Now learn to be tactful.” Then she asked, “How’s
mom?” Pausing just for a second, he then replied, “Dear, your
mom is on the roof.”
That’s brutal, isn’t it? We need to be tactful. Solomon
warns us that a “brother offended is harder to be won than a
strong city,” and that “contentions are like the bars of a
castle.”
I read about a shoe salesman who on the first day of
his new job was told by his employer not to say, “Your foot is
too big for the shoe.” Instead, he was taught to say, “I’m
sorry, ma’am, but the shoe is just too little for your foot.”
Both statements express the same fact, but one was an insult
while the other was “tact.” Now, tact didn’t change her foot
size but it did save face and that’s what tact is all about.
What to do:
✞Be tactful, if not, just be quiet!!

********************

Common Sense About Giving

July 16

 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 9

 Key Verse: Verse 7 - "Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver."
Key Words: God loveth a cheerful giver

A pastor in a rural community wanted to see if a

farmer in his church was willing to support the Lord’s work.
As they were walking along one day, the pastor decided to ask
him some direct questions. “If you had two farms,” he said,
“would you be willing to give one to the Lord?” The farmer
didn’t hesitate. “Why, Pastor, you know if I had two farms, I’d
be glad to give one to the Lord.” The pastor asked another
question. “If you had $10,000, would you give $5,000 to the
Lord?” Again there was no hesitation. “Why, of course I
would, Pastor. If I had $10,000, half of it would go right to
the Lord.” The pastor had one more question. “If you had
two hogs,” he said, “would you give one to the Lord?” This
time there was a lengthy pause. Finally, the farmer replied,
“Aw, Pastor, you know I’ve got two hogs!”
It was easy for the farmer to talk of giving so
generously as long as it was something out of his reach. But
when it came down to what he really did have, he wasn’t
willing to part with it. He hadn’t learned to be a cheerful
giver. You see, God expects us to give out of the abundance of
what He has blessed us with. According to I Corinthians 16:2,
each of us is to give according as God has prospered us. But
how can we give cheerfully? The key to this is found in II
Corinthians 8:1-5, where Paul commended the churches of
Macedonia for their willingness to give. Verse 5 tells us that,
before they gave financially, they first gave their own selves
to the Lord. If you want to be a cheerful giver, first give
yourself to the Lord, and your giving will be from a heart of
love.

What to do:
✞Always remember that when one complains about
“having” to give, it tells a lot about their relationship
with God.

********************

Common Sense About Choices

July 17

 Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

 Key Verse: Verse 9 - "Rejoice, O young man, in thy
youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy
youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these
things God will bring thee into judgment."
Key Words: God will bring thee into judgment

It seems as though that Solomon is back and forth and

can’t make up his mind if youthfulness is positive or negative.
In verse 7 Solomon sees youthfulness as a positive.
The ability to have “sight” is a positive thing.
In verse 8 Solomon switches back to a negative, “Let
him remember the days of darkness.”
But now in verse 9 he’s positive again, “Let thy heart
cheer thee in the days of thy youth.”
But in verse 10 he says childhood and youth are vanity.
The essence of what Solomon is saying is that the
choices we make in our youth will determine if our life is filled
with darkness or light.
Your youthful days are empty if they are not lived
right. Life is a gift that is given to us by God, given one day at
a time, in fact, one second at a time. It is a precious gift, and
it is to be used for the glory of God. What is the chief end of
man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him
forever.

What to do:
✞Remember, you will live with your decisions so
make your choices wisely.

********************

Common Sense About Affliction

July 18

 Bible Reading: Psalm 119:65-72

 Key Verse: Verses 71 - "It is good for me that I have
been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
Key Words: It is good for me that I have been
afflicted

Surely, the last thing we think about during affliction

is the fact that it is good.
As you read the Word of God you find that affliction is
good.
Paul had a thorn in the flesh, and he asked God on
three occasions to remove it, but God said, “My grace is
sufficient for thee.” Paul’s affliction allowed him to
experience the grace of God.
We read in II Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God.”
Our affliction allows us to comfort others when they
are going through a time of affliction. It actually becomes a
ministry.
 It was the affliction of the three Hebrew children in
the fiery furnace that revealed the power and deliverance of
God.
So the psalmist is right when he says, “It is good for
me that I have been afflicted.”
I am not a connoisseur of great art, but from time to
time a painting or picture will really speak a clear, strong
message to me. Some time ago I saw a picture of an old
burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the
chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s
sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old
grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes
with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was
evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were
the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to
the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a
profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were,
“Hush child, God ain’t dead!”
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack,
that old man, the weeping child, and those words “God ain’t
dead” keep returning to my mind. Instead of it being a
reminder of the despair of life, it has come to be a reminder of
hope! I need reminders that there is hope in this world. In
the midst of all of life’s troubles and failures, I need mental
pictures to remind me that all is not lost as long as God is
alive and in control.

What to do:
✞Remember, God doesn’t do things to us but allows
things for us.
Common Sense About Marriage
July 19

 Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

 Key Verse: Verses 9 - "Live joyfully with the wife
whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity,
which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days
of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in
thy labour which thou takest under the sun."
Key Words: Live joyfully with the wife whom thou
lovest all the days of the life

Isn’t it amazing how some men think that the woman

they barely know will make a better partner than the wife they
loved and lived with for years? And by the way, the same can
be said for the woman who throws her life away for a man she
barely knows. What a waste! What a shame!
Men, there are a lot of beautiful women in this world,
but you need to be content with the wife of your youth.
Think of all the lives that are destroyed by extra-
marital affairs…the children, the grandchildren. Think of our
previous governor, Robert Bentley, who threw away his life
and all who loved him for a few weeks of pleasure.
We were visiting friends when they received a
telephone call from their recently married daughter. After
several tense minutes on the phone, the mother told the father
to pick up the extension. The newlyweds had had their first
big fight. In a few moments, the father rejoined us and tersely
explained, “Said she wanted to come home.” “What did you
tell her?” I asked. “Told her she was home.”
Now, there is some good counsel.

What to do:
✞Be content with the wife of thy youth…she probably
is the only one still willing to love you.

.
 Common Sense About Life
July 20

 Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 2:12-17


Key Verse: Verse 17 – "Therefore I hated life; because
the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous
unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
Key Words: Therefore I hated life

Solomon is comparing the wise man with the foolish

man. He reaches the conclusion that wisdom is better than
folly (verse 13). He also concludes that the wise man uses
both his head (brain) and his eyes. He thinks and sees
correctly. But the fool’s thinking and sight are all wrong
(verse 14). But he reaches another conclusion in verse 16 that
they both (the wise and the foolish) die and neither of them
are remembered anymore. As a result he says, “I hated life”
(verse 17).
Sometimes we become discouraged with life and ask
ourselves, “Is this all there is to life?”
The mythical story is told of Tantalus, king who had
been found guilty of giving the secrets of the Greek gods to
mortal men. His punishment was to be placed in the river
called Hades. The water came up to his chin. Hanging and
dangling over his head were branches of voluptuous fruit. The
punishment, however, was this. Every time Tantalus got
thirsty and lowered his chin to drink water, the water would
recede. Every time Tantalus reached out to grab a piece of
fruit, the branch would rise. So the refreshment for his thirst
was right there at chin level. Food for his stomach was right
above his head. But the harder he tried, the less he got. The
punishment for his crime was to be in the vicinity of a blessing
and not be able to get it.
The point is simply if you reach out for fulfillment in
the things of this life, you'll discover that it's just out of your
reach. For nothing in life was designed to give you fulfillment
except God. Everything else is but a cheap imitation. The
things in life that many of us cling to most for meaning, zip,
and purpose must continually be hoarded because they so
quickly elude us. The only lasting satisfaction in this life can
be found in our relationship with God.
So the answer to, “Does life have any new meaning?” is
yes! When you make life about Jesus and others rather than
yourself, your life is not meaningless.

What to do:
✞Live your life, not so you will be remembered, but so
Jesus will be remembered.

********************

Common Sense About Getting

Old
July 21

 Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

 Key Verse: Verse 7 - "Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God
who gave it."
Key Words: Then shall the dust return to the earth
as it was

Solomon reminds us of the importance of

remembering God when we are young because old age is
coming. It is inevitable for us all. I will – you will – we all will
go through “old age.” Eyesight will dim, hands will tremble,
teeth begin to come loose, can’t sleep, little things become a
bunch. Then this old body will turn to dust, but praise God
the spirit shall go to God (verse 7).
You know you’re getting older when…
 Most of your dreams are reruns
 You sit down in a rocking chair and you can’t get
started
 Your mind makes commitments your body can’t keep
  The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is
your wife
 Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work
 You sink your teeth into a juicy steak and they stay
there
 You watch a pretty girl go by, and your pacemaker
makes the garage door open.

But it’s also good to remember that age has its benefits
as well.
Abraham was 75 before he began his journey for God.
Moses was 80 when he led Israel out of Egypt.
Don’t let your age hinder your service. You can always
have a ministry. If nothing else, you can be a prayer warrior.

What to do:
✞Stay faithful until God calls you home.

********************

Common Sense About Children

July 22

 Bible Reading: Psalm 51

 Key Verse: Verse 5 - " Behold, I was shapen in
iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Key Words: in sin did my mother conceive me

Children, like all of us, come into the world with a sin
nature. The Psalmist David said, “In sin did my mother
conceive me.” In this Scripture we do not find a contrast
between “innocent children” and “sinful adults.” “Foolishness
is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall
drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). Children are sinners
as well as adults.
I have never seen a child who needed instruction on
how to sin; it comes quite naturally. I doubt that any of you
sat your child down and taught them how to lie. It just comes
naturally.
In his book, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning,
Douglas Wilson writes, “I had to confront my five year-old
daughter because of bitterness toward her brother. It seems
he had clobbered her earlier in the day; although he was
disciplined for his action, she was unwilling to forgive. So I
quoted Matthew 6:14-15, ‘For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if
you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.’ Looking at me she said, ‘Who is this
Matthew guy anyway?’” Now her questioning of the
Scriptures was not due to liberal theologians, but rather it was
a result of her unforgiving spirit and her sin nature.
Our children are sinners and education alone is not
the answer. All you get when you educate a sinner is a “clever
sinner.” Knowledge by itself does not make people better, but
rather makes them worse. Education is not the answer to our
problem, but Jesus is!! (See Romans 3:20 and 5:20.)
I think all of you would agree with me that we want
our children to receive a quality education; but if all we do is
educate the mind and never attempt to regenerate the heart,
we have failed.

What to do:
✞Don’t just educate the mind, work on the heart as
well.

********************

Common Sense About God &

Creation
July 23

 Bible Reading: Genesis 1

 Key Verse: Verse 1 - "In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth.”
 Key Words: In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth

Since the atheist believes that God doesn’t exist, he has

to justify through some means how man came to be. His
remarkable answer is evolution. Man evolved into being. But
if evolution is a process of progression, then why is everything
digressing?
It is said that Sir Isaac Newton had a perfectly scaled
down replica of the then known solar system built for his
studies. A large golden ball represented the sun at the center,
and the then known planets revolved around it through a
series of cogs, belts, and rods. It was said to have been an
incredible machine. One day while Newton was studying his
model, an atheist friend stopped by for a visit.
The man marveled at the machine and asked, “Who
made this exquisite thing?”
Without looking up and without hesitation, Newton
replied, “Nobody.”
“Nobody?” his friend asked.
“That’s right,” said Newton. “All of these balls, cogs,
belts, and gears just happened to come together, and wonder
of wonders, by chance they began revolving in their orbits
with perfect timing.”
His friend replied, “That’s not possible.”
Newton said, “I know.”
Then his friend, with a look of embarrassment, said, “I
got it, Isaac.”
Oh, that others would get it as well!

What to do:
✞Pray for those who fail to see.
✞Pray for our educational system which is blinding
the minds of our youth.
✞Pray for our country to turn back to God.
✞Pray for the righteous to stand and do right.

Common Sense About Worry

 July 24

 Bible Reading: Matthew 6

 Key Verse: Verse 25 - "Therefore I say unto you, Take
no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye
shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?"
Key Words: Take no thought

You find the word thought five times in our text. The
word means anxiety or worry.
Someone said, "Most of today's worries are like
puddles, tomorrow they will have evaporated."
Herbert Lockyear said, "Worry produces doubt in a
three-fold direction: 1) God's love is doubted. Worry implies
that He cares little for His blood-washed children. 2) God's
wisdom is doubted. Worry indicates that He is not able to
plan for His own, that He does not know what is best for them
who belong to Him. 3) God's power is doubted. Worry says
His grace is not sufficient for our needs."
A French soldier in World War I carried with him this
little receipt of worry: "Of two things, one is certain. Either
you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at
the front, of two things one is certain. Either you are exposed
to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to
danger, of two things one is certain. Either you are wounded,
or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things
one is certain. Either you recover, or you die. If you recover,
there is no need to worry. If you die, you can't worry. SO
WHY WORRY?
Good advice!

What to do:
✞Don't worry about tomorrow. Remember, God is
already there.

Common Sense About Grace

 July 25

 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 12:1-9

 Key Verse: Verse 9 - "And he said unto me, My grace
is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect
in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me."
Key Words: My grace is sufficient

Grace is defined as God’s unmerited favor. My

definition of grace is God giving us what we do not deserve;
but as you can see from our Bible reading, grace is not giving
us what we want but rather, God is giving us what we need.
That should be sufficient enough.
Respirators are machines that do the breathing for
you. If you are laid down on the hospital bed and there is a
problem with your breathing, they put you on a respirator. If
you insist on breathing on your own, the respirator does you
no good. There’s only one thing you can do with the
respirator – cooperate. Now, you are involved because it’s
your lungs going up and down. It’s your mouth and nose that
are taking in and expelling the oxygen. The two of you are
working together but the respirator is doing the work; you are
just cooperating with it rather than resisting it.
Christ wants to express His life through you and be
your respirator. He does not want you being your own
respirator because then you don’t need Him. He doesn’t want
to do it apart from you, so you must cooperate. You must
yield yourself to the person of Christ. We have too many
Christians today hyperventilating the spiritual life.

What to do:
✞Live by God’s grace for that really is sufficient
enough.
 Common Sense About the
Resurrection
July 26

 Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-8

 Key Verse: Verse 8 - "Why should it be thought a
thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?"
Key Words: that God should raise the dead

I often ask myself how it is even possible that men

should doubt the resurrection from the dead. It is far more
incredible that there should be no resurrection. The question
of Paul to King Agrippa was, Why should it be thought a thing
incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? If there
is no resurrection, this life really has no meaning, it becomes
hollow and empty. Then God Who created us is a God of
sheer sorrow...is this life all there is? Just a few years of
alternating between crying and laughing, mostly crying, and
then death? Then we must say with the Apostle Paul, If in
this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable. But the resurrection should not be incredible to
us, for all things around us remind us of the resurrection. The
buds on the trees, the flowers in the garden, the emerging of
life after a long winter of inactivity, all point to the
resurrection.
In an ancient tomb in France, buried under the debris,
archaeologists found flower seeds which had been there for
2,000 years! The explorers took the seeds and planted them
and to no one’s amazement, they grew. Egyptian garden peas
which had been buried for 3,000 years were brought and
planted, and you guessed it, within a few days they had
germinated and broken ground–buried 3,000 years and then
resurrected to life! Why then should it be thought a thing
incredible that God should raise the dead? If God can cause a
lump of clay to become alive at the creation of man, then
again, I ask why can man not believe in the resurrection? To
me the most incredible thing would be for Jesus to live the life
He lived and then remain dead. Hallelujah! Christ arose!
 Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign:
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Amen and amen! And because He lives, I too can and

will live for eternity. So can you by believing that Jesus is the
Christ, your Savior.

What to do:
✞Believe in the resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).

********************

Common Sense About Salvation

July 27

 Bible Reading: II Corinthians 6:1-10

 Key Verse: Verse 2 - "(For he saith, I have heard thee
in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)"
Key Words: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation

Salvation is a choice we make. It is the most

important choice one makes in their entire life. It is the only
“eternal” decision we make. It comes with eternal blessing or
eternal damage, but the choice is yours.
Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write
a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000—that’s genius.
Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and
make it worth a million dollars—that’s capital.
Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and
make it worth $20.00—that’s money.
 A mechanic can take material that is worth only $5.00
and make it worth $50.00—that’s skill.
An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a
picture on it, and make it worth $1,000—that’s art.
God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the
blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to
humanity—that’s salvation.

What to do:
✞Make the right choice: accept Jesus today as your
Savior.

********************

Common Sense About Religion

July 28

 Bible Reading: James 1:16-27

 Key Verse: Verse 27 - "Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world."
Key Words: Pure religion

James says pure religion is clean and undefiled. It is

more than sitting through a church service. It is a service for
God that involves two things.
First, we must visit the fatherless and the widow in
their affliction. Now, we define “visit” a lot differently than
God does. The word “visit” carries the idea of going to those
who are fatherless and a widow with the idea of helping to
relieve them of their affliction.
Secondly, pure religion is keeping oneself unspotted
(unstained) from the world.
The 19th – century Danish theologian Soren
Kierkegaard identified two kinds of religion – Religion A and
Religion B. The first is “faith” in name only (II Timothy 3:5).
It’s the practice of attending church without genuine faith in
the living Lord.
Religion B, on the other hand, is a life-transforming,
destiny-changing experience. It’s a definite commitment to
the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing
personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a
gracious God.
This difference explains why for many years British
author C. S. Lewis had such great difficulty in becoming a
Christian. Religion A had blinded him to Religion B.
According to his brother, Warren, his conversion was “no
sudden plunge into new life, but rather a slow, steady
convalescence from a deep-seated spiritual illness – an illness
that had its origins in our childhood, in the dry husks of
religious church-goers, but not doers of the Word of God.
People went to church out of duty but not out of desire. There
was no zeal or love for God, no service for God in their lives.”
C. S. Lewis had to overcome impure religion in order
to be saved. So I ask you: is your religion pure or impure?
You can tell by what you do and why you do it.

What to do:
✞Ask God to help your religion to be pure.

********************

Common Sense About the Facts

July 29

 Bible Reading: Acts 11:1-21

 Key Verse: Verse 2 - "And when Peter was come up to
Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision
contended with him,"
Key Words: contended with him
 The Jews of Judea didn’t care for the fact that Peter
had carried the Word of God to the Gentiles. They had
reached a decision based on what they had heard without
allowing Peter the opportunity to give them the facts.
People have not changed, nor have churches. We are
still basing things on what we hear or think we hear and what
we see or think we see without having all the facts.
In 2004 the top two commercials for the year ran
during the Super Bowl. The commercial that finished second
had a man standing in line in a convenience store talking with
a friend on his cell phone. When he gets to the counter to pay
for his items he says in great shock, “You’re being robbed?”
talking to his friend. The clerk looking down at the register
thinks he is talking to him and proceeds to grab some pepper
spray and spraying it in the man’s eyes, the clerk jumps over
the counter and proceeds to beat the man with a baseball bat,
and then shoots him with a taser gun. He did all of this
because of what he heard or thought he heard. Wrong
decision!!
The commercial that finished first had a man
preparing a romantic meal for his wife. He was in the kitchen
cutting up tomatoes when he steps back and trips over his
wife’s white cat. Tomatoes go flying everywhere including
leaving tomatoes and tomato stains on the cat. The man picks
the cat up to take it to the bathroom to clean it. When his wife
sees her husband with her tomato-stained cat in one hand and
a knife in the other, she is furious and grabs the lamp and
cracks her husband over the head…because of what she
thought she saw. Wrong decision!!
Moral: Don’t make decisions on what you think you
hear or what you think you see…get the facts.

What to do:
✞John 7:24, “Judge not according to the appearance,
but judge righteous judgment.”
 Common Sense About the
People, Part One
July 30

 Bible Reading: Acts 25:1-12

 Key Verse: Verse 12- "Then Festus, when he had
conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou
appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go."
Key Words: unto Caesar shalt thou go

The Jews were not content with Felix’s decision to

leave Paul in prison (Acts 24:27). They wanted Paul to be
executed so when Festus (governor of the province) came into
their area, they appealed their case to him. He brought Paul
before him and Paul appealed to Caesar.
Neither Felix nor Festus wanted anything to do with
Paul. They both knew he was innocent but both also knew
that to let him go would displease the Jewish people.
I recently read an old fable that has been passed down
for generations which tells about an elderly man who was
traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a
village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was
walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool
for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's
back. When they came to the next village, the people said the
old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the
ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the
animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village,
people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man
walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the
man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village,
the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey
because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man
took their donkey and went back home.
The moral of the fable is when you try to please people,
you end up accomplishing nothing. So it was with Felix and
Festus…they accomplished nothing. This should never be our
testimony!
What to do:
✞Live to please the Lord and you’ll accomplish much.

********************

Common Sense About the

People, Part Two
July 31

 Bible Reading: Galatians 6

 Key Verse: Verse 10- "As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith."
Key Words: let us do good unto all men

Paul understood that the business of God is people:

helping people, leading people, restoring people.
We as well need to remember that we are in the people
business.
 Your business is not sales – your business is
people.
 Your business is not mechanics -- your business is
people.
 Your business is not the restaurant -- your
business is people.
 Your business is not the law -- your business is
people.
 Your business is not education -- your business is
people.
 We are in the people business.

In the 1950s, marketing whiz Stanley Arnold was

working at Young & Rubicam, where he was asked to come up
with a marketing campaign for Remington Rand. The
company was among the most conservative in America. Its
chairman at the time was retired General Douglas MacArthur.
Intimidated at first by a company that was so much a part of
America, Arnold also found in that phrase the first inspiration
for a campaign. After thinking about it, he went to the New
York offices of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Beane, and
placed the ultimate odd-lot order.
“I want to purchase,” he told the broker, “one share of
every single stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange.”
After a vice president tried to talk him out of it, the order was
finally placed. It came to more than $42,000 for one share in
each of the 1098 companies listed on the Big Board at the
time. Arnold now took his diversified portfolio into a meeting
of Remington Rand’s board of directors, where he argued
passionately for a sweepstakes campaign with the top prize
called A Share in America. The conservative old gentlemen
shifted around in their seats and discussed the idea for a
while. “But Mr. Arnold,” said one, “we are not in the
securities business.” Said another, “We are in the shaver
business.”
“I agree that you are not in the securities business,”
said Arnold, “but I think you also ought to realize that you are
not in the shaver business either. You are in the people
business.” The company bought the idea.

What to do:
✞Never forget: God’s business is always people.
Notes:
I deeply appreciate the
help of

Mary Parsons

Glenda Myrick

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse
 is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org