7 Things That Should Matter To Every Man

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We can’t control the global monetary system and economic policies of foreign capitals.

We can’t control the lunacy of terrorists or anyone who will randomly take the lives of innocent people.

We can’t control what happens on Wall Street but we can control what happens on our street.

We can’t control what happens in the White House but we can control what happens in our houses.

John 16:33 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] 

In school, whether it was high school or college, I must confess I always liked multiple choice questions the best.

Door # 1. . .has perfect peace and confidence.

Door # 2. . .has tribulations, trials, distress and frustration.

Which door will you choose?  Unless you need a check-up from the neck up, you will naturally choose perfect peace and confidence.

Okay, now this is real life. . .you do have the choice. 

You can choose. . .

Tribulations (not being able to pay your bills). . .

Trials (being laid off on your job). . .

Distress (wondering how you’re going to provide for your family). . .

 Frustration (feeling like nobody will help you or give you a break)

Once again let’s look at John 16:33 in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” 

In Him, you and I may have. . .(it’s a choice). . .the ability to have perfect peace and confidence.

Confidence. . .that nothing or nobody can rob you of your divine destiny or keep you from manifesting the promises of God in your life.

Debt cannot. . .Depression cannot. . .Disappointment cannot. . .Discouragement cannot. 

Nothing, and I mean nothing, can keep you from having perfect peace and His confidence in every situation unless you choose otherwise.

We choose . . .every day. . . whether we will serve the world with all its tribulation, trials, distress and frustration or whether we will serve the God of perfect peace.

I think it’s also important to notice that the scripture says “be of good cheer.”  That means not to mope around with a “oh- whoa- is- me attitude.

Try this. . .the next time the enemy attacks you, your family, finances or health, laugh at him or the circumstances.  Tell him that you are wise to his tricks and they’re not going to work on you anymore and go back to keeping your eyes on the Lord.

But “Brother Harold, how can I be of good cheer with what I’m going through?”

You choose . . . because you are a creature of free will. . .you can choose to be cheerful (that’s what the Word says we’re to do) or you can choose the “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” mentality.

You can’t control Syria, North Korea or Iran…but you can control your turf.

It’s time to take full responsibility for your actions. . .for the money of our house.

Here are things that should matter to every man and for that matter every woman on planet earth.

1.  Your personal motivation….you’re going to have to encourage yourself.

Frankly, we must encourage ourselves before we can encourage anyone else.

What’s the best way to encourage yourself?

Reading the right books is important.

Making the right confessions is very helpful.

Throwing out negative thoughts works wonders.

Memorizing the right quotations will stir your faith and that’s good.

Listening to the right CDs and MP3s empowers you.

All of those things are good. . .however, the most important thing that you can do is to encourage yourself in the Lord.

1 Samuel 30:6 says:

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

David and his men returned home from battle to find their families had been kidnapped, their valuable possessions stolen and everything else burned to the ground.  

Needless to say, he wasn’t having a good day but then things went from bad to worst.  His men were now talking of stoning him to death.

For there to exist that kind of anger against David, their leader, you know things had to be pretty bad.

In the midst of such adversity and personal grief. . .David knew there was only one thing to do. . .one thing to make him feel better. . .one thing to sharpen his perspective. . .one thing to bring victory in a desperate, distressing and depressing situation. . .he knew it was time to encourage himself in the Lord by speaking what he knew to be true in God’s promises.

When you’re going through hell. . .the only source of peace and deliverance is through encouraging yourself in the One and only who can turn things around. . .just like that.

What’s the best way to encourage yourself in the Lord. . .by praising Him for what He’s already done and is doing in and through your lives.

2.  Your place….where you work and worship….

No matter how difficult your work situation. . .remember the story of Joseph and you’re bound to be encouraged.

Genesis 50:19-20 in the King James Version says:

“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

800,000 scriptures and only once …do they refer to the place of God. 

No matter what kind of famine you’re going through…..you’ve got access to the Lord God Almighty… the maker of heaven and earth.  Decide to become the Joseph at your house….the one who faithfully puts God first.

Excel in your present job….

Continually ask yourself. . .if you’re in the place of God.

Trust Him in every situation.

3.  Your favor matters.

The Lord’s irresistible charm can and will flow through you to other people.

Even in the midst of difficult circumstances. . .the supernatural favor of God will flow through you.

Genesis 39:21 says:

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

While most believers will never find themselves confined in a prison with guards and tungsten steel wire fences. . .they may feel incarcerated by their surroundings. . .feeling that freedom. . .financial and otherwise. . .is just an elusive dream.

No matter what circumstances you’re facing. . .God can move you from the prison to the palace. . .as His irresistible charm flows through you to change hearts and attitudes toward you.

 Acts 7:10 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.”

God will even give you favor with people who have tortured you. . .laughed at you. . .perhaps even enslaved you.

Exodus 12:36 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they asked. And they stripped the Egyptians [of those things].”

God’s WORD Translation of Exodus 12:36 says: “. . .So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.”

So my prayer is for the irresistible charm of Jesus to flow through you. . .giving you favor with every person you meet.

Many of these people may not even know why they’re giving you such favor. . .but we will know.

4.  Your trustworthiness matters.

Psalm 20:7 says:

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

There are way too many believers who are looking to someone other than the Lord for their financial deliverance.

Some trust in chariots (jobs and retirement accounts).

Millions of Americans and other folks around the world are discovering that they can no longer trust in their job to provide the necessary income to pay their bills and care for their family.

That’s all the more reason to trust in the only One who can give you financial security.

There was a time when people based their lives and financial stability on the 40/50/40 plan.  They would work for their employer 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year for 40 years and then live off the company’s retirement planThose days are history.

Technological advances and the changing global economy have drastically altered the traditional career path for millions of workers.

The good old days of employment security plans are just that. . .old.  Yesterday is gone FOREVER.

As believers, our deliverance has never come out of Egypt (the world financial system) nor should it.

Our best hope and the only place we should place our confidence and trust is symbolized by the words found on our money.

In God We Trust.

Psalm 125:1 says:

“They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.”

The Living Bible translation of Psalm 125:1 says we will be “. . .unmoved by any circumstance.

We’re not moved by circumstances. . .when we trust Him.

5.  Knowledge matters because it allows you to make wise choices.

Proverbs 19:2 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.”

We need to establish there is a distinct difference between wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Exodus 31:3 says:

“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

The Classic Amplified Bible translation of Exodus 31:3 says:

“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.”

One more translation for further clarification.  Exodus 31:3 in the New Living Translation says:

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.”

Wisdom gives you abilityUnderstanding gives you the intelligence to figure things outKnowledge gives you the expertise to make things happen.

God must really want us to understand the distinctions because there is only one word difference in Exodus 31:3 and Exodus 35:31 which says:

“And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

Get it. . .got it. . .live it.

6.  Your good name matters.

Proverbs 22:1 says:

“A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 22:1 says:

“A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.”

In Biblical times, names were very significant as they would often describe a person, their characteristics or destiny.  For instance. . .

Abraham means “the father of many nations.”

Moses means “drawn from the water.”

David means “beloved.”

John means “gracious gift of God.”

The list could go on …but the main point is that names were important back then.  What about today?  Is God still the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)?

I find that a good name is the result of something far more lasting than something picked out of a book of baby names.  A good name is the result of integrity, character and reputation.

Once a good name is tarnished, it is most difficult to ever restore.  Please note that I said difficult to restore . . . not impossible.”

Zephaniah 3:20 in the New Living Translation says:

“On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 

Once again, I come back to Proverbs 22:1. . .this time in the Message Bible:

“A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.”

In a real sense the amount of money that you have in the bank and/or your life is primarily determined today by whether or not you have a good name.

Make no mistake about it . . . people are always checking you out.

When young people say “somebody is totally checking you out,” they’re trying to determine whether or not you’re a person of interest to them.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the social networking phenomenon changing the way we communicate.

Without question, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and others have revolutionized our interpersonal and even non-personal communications.  Let me explain.

The basic concept of social networking is to invite people . . .most of whom you’ve never met. . .to be your follower or friend.  If your posts are worthwhile, then you get a “good name” and others request to be your friend so they can follow the things you write about.

7.  Your obedience to God’s Word matters.

When you’re facing a tough adversary . . . when the storms of life are swirling around you . . . when it seems there is no way to make it . . . that defeat is inevitable . . . remember the words of Joshua 1:7 in the New Living Translation which says:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.”

There is no conditional obedience to God’s Word. . .you either obey it or you don’t.  It’s not a kinda, sorta thing.  But obedience to His Word comes with immeasurable and never-ending benefits.

Deuteronomy 29:9 in the New Living Translation says:

“Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do.”

Let me close with a scripture which should make you shout.

Isaiah 1:19 in The Living Bible says:

“If you will only let me help you, if you will only obey, then I will make you rich.”

If we let Him help us (our choice). . .if we will obey (our choice), then He will make you rich (His choice and promise to us).

These are seven things that should matter to every man … and woman.

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