Truths to Live By

I forgot when I subscribe to FCCI's newsletter, but the Kent Humphreys always have good words to share with us. This is his latest advice: (my opinion is highlighted in blue with added pictures to emphasis the meaning I understood)


10 Truths to Live By (Written by Kent Humphreys)

1. Don’t be religious, but passionately seek to know and love God. Seventy years on this earth will seem but a moment in all eternity.
“Love your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your might” Deuteronomy 6:4, 5

Personally, I think people do mix "religious" with "routinely-doing-things-seemingly-religious." The important thing is your relationship with God.

2. Make your family a priority. Love is spelled “T-I-M-E”. Create opportunities to work and play together.
“Husbands love, wives respect, young children obey, and grown children honor” Ephesians5, 6
(Example 20:12)Working for financial security vs. spending quality time with your family; the dillema for most working parents have. However, a balance between the two can be achieved before it is too late.

3. Have a career that you enjoy and be the best at what you do, both in your company and industry. Never compare yourself to someone else. Balance times of work and rest.
“God will teach him how to choose the best” Psalms 25:12 (L)

If you love doing your work, congratulations! It's a great boon for you to get paid doing what you love. If not, fret not; try to find what works for you and enjoy it. It'll make the working hours pass more quickly. (I wish I can find mine!!)

4. Love and serve those people around you as you observe, listen, and become available to them. Don’t seek to control others, but unselfishly give your life for them.
“Through love serve one another” Galatians 5:13

Even Jesus lived to serve others, what more us - mere beings? It is not degrading to serve others, in fact, it is a priviledge to help others while we can.

5. Build your life on established truths. The latest “opinion polls,” how people “feel,” or current fads are weak foundations on which to build your life.
“I am the Truth” John 14:6 “A wise man who built his house upon a rock” Matthew 7:24

For me, the truths I live by is written in the bible. Hence, I must always do my daily devotion to remind myself of these truths because the temptation to stray is always around.

6. Establish a few intimate friendships and become transparent in small groups. True friends are invaluable and necessary during the storms of life.
“A cord of three standards is not quickly torn apart” Ecclesiastes 4:12

We have many "friends" but how many are true friends? It is important to be transparent and honest with each other. Then we can learn to be accountable and encourage one another in times of need.

7. Keep your word whatever it cost! Be totally honest, trustworthy, and a person of character. Yes, character does matter.
“Who can find a trustworthy man?” Proverbs 20:6

Keep your word - especially to a child. They will remember it for life!
In the workplace, it will show your good character- trustworthy enough to carry more responsibilities.

8. Work hard at learning to be a good communicator. Read a lot, learn to speak, to write and to spell. Be an enthusiastic leader, not a dumb sheep following the crowd over the cliff.
“A wise man will then increase in learning” Proverbs 1:5

Another analogy would be the lemmings jumping over the cliff (remember the lemmings game?). Most of the time, it is safe to follow with majority but never ever follow them blindly and compromise your principles. You do not answer to the crowd, but the our Maker.

9. Make money your slave, not your master, save regularly and avoid debt. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
“Whoever loves money will not be satisfied” Ecclesiastes 5:10

Yes, I admit, we need money to live in this world. However, why buy a big expensive car you can't use for fear of being rob? Why live in a big bungalow with high security (live a prisoner in your own home) if you fear robbers come in? Live within your means without all this unnecessary worries. In fact, you can even sleep better at night. ;)
Plus you don't have to worry about earning enough money to pay the bills.

10. Persist. Never give up! Know where you are going.
“Trials --> Perseverance --> Character --> Hope” Romans 5:3, 4
First - be sure of your goal so you know where you are working towards. Then never give up. As long as it is what you're meant to do, God will open the way for you.