By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
A book that has greatly influenced many people is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
There are several things of note but for the purpose of today I will just refer to one thought.
Stephen Covey challenges us to think about 4 people who will speak at our funeral.
Someone is lined up from: family, community, business and church.
The question is: what will they say about you?
What would you like them to say?
What are you doing now that will allow them to say what you would like them to say?
What made me think about this today was reading about the sons of Issachar.
You remember them, don’t you?
In 1 Chronicles 12:32 it reads:
“And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.”
What a great statement to be said about these men.
Especially, in light of the fact that David was just getting those gathered who would serve him as King.
He would need those who had knowledge and wisdom and that describes these men.
Now, in thinking of the sons of Issachar, I was reminded of others about whom great things were said.
Think about the Bereans.
Acts 17:11 says of them:
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”
Think about the Thessalonians of whom it is said the Bereans were more noble-minded.
In 1 Thessalonians 1—Paul writes of them:
“You also became imitator of us and of the Lord…so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”
So—if someone were asked to describe your character—what would they say?
What would you want them to say?
What are you doing now that will allow them to say what you would like them to say?
Each day God gives us allows us to build into our character and what people will say about us.
I can choose to serve ‘me’ and what ‘I want’ and that would be reflected in what is said about me.
Or, as I say often: I can take the opportunities God gives me and serve Him.
Often, as I serve Him—I am then also serving others.
Wouldn’t that be a great thing said?
“He faithfully served Jesus by faithfully reaching out and serving others.”
I think I will work on that in my life- hopefully if asked to share about me—this is what you could say.
What about you?