There are two kinds of people in this world. The first looks at others who have accomplished significant things in their lives and thinks, “Why them?” Why not me? The other looks at those same people and thinks: If they can do it, why can’t I? He sees the success of others as an inspiration, not as intimidation. Which attitude will propel you onward and upward? Which will drive you to bitterness and despair?

I read a lot, and I like to read biographies of successful people. I especially enjoy reading about successful pastors and leaders. As I read about these people, I try to learn from their story and believe that I can be like them. One of my favorite biographies is “George Mueller of Bristol.” He accomplished an unbelievable amount simply by praying for it. All through the book, I am saying to myself, “I can do that, I can do that, and I will, help me, Lord. 

I picked this up from my mother. Whenever I would talk about someone’s great accomplishment, usually in sports, Mom would say to me, “You can do that if you try hard.” If you hear something often enough, you begin to believe it, and I did. Thank you, Mom. 

Proverbs 3:3-4 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute

In the sight of God and man.

I think most people would like to have favor with God. Several people in the Bible enjoyed God’s favor. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and Joseph, Mary’s husband, to name a few. Proverbs 3:3-4 also mentions favor with people. We all tend to do things that make people like us, but to have favor with people is more about being admired than being liked, though I am sure we would like to be with and around those we admire. 

The main requirement for being highly favored by God and people is our kindness. A major emphasis in the Bible is that we are kind to people who are not easy to be kind to, the kind that very few other people are kind to. 

There is no immediate motivation to be kind to difficult people, but my main motivation is the desire to please God and be favored by Him.