The Deciding Factor Deciding Factor

Feeling good is temporary. Being good is eternal. This quote has found its way onto the vision board that I keep in my office, and for a good reason. There is a profound difference between fleeting moments of pleasure and the lasting impact of living a life rooted in goodness. Understanding the inheritance of temporary pleasure and eternal fulfillment can help us make the correct decisions, and ensure that we get what we want out of this life. The pursuit of temporary satisfaction can often leave us feeling empty, while cultivating enduring virtues leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Every one of us has to make a choice of who we will serve. The Bible makes this very clear. But what isn’t so clearly written, is the responsibility that we hold towards that service, as well as everything that we are accountable for. On today's episode we talk about what it means to serve God, what we are accountable to God for, and how we can serve God properly in every area of our life.

Observe the world around you long enough, and you will find that the world is full of lies. From the media, to the politicians, to Hollywood, everyone is trying to sell you a version of reality that just isn’t true. So how do we deal with such deceit in the world? The answer is simple. Accept nothing less than the absolute truth. The truth is like a mirror, it will show everything that stands in the way of its reflection. Regardless of how ugly or beautiful it may be, what is shown in the mirror is a simple and honest reflection of what truly is. What matters is how we respond to that reflection. Will we reject the image it gives us, and demand that reality bend to our will. Or will we accept the truth, and live at peace with the image we see, knowing that genuine effort is the only way we will ever improve the reflection that we look into.

We have heard it said that power corrupts. As far as history can tell, that saying holds true. No matter what form of government, corruption always finds its way into the heart of those who wield power. It was for this reason that our founding fathers instituted a republic with separation of powers, and checks and balances, that is subject to the will of the people. But over time, the power that we the people hold has been diverted to the bureaucracy. And the transparency and obedience that we expect from our elected officials has been all but forgotten. As frightening as it may be, it requires someone to stand up against it if it is ever going to get fixed. And in one very famous and specific example, we can see exactly what happens when one man decides to stand up against this kind of corruption.

Ambition, courage, and conviction are all noble attributes to possess. But any one of these values, if not sustained, can quickly lead to us burning out and leaving our passions and skills behind us. We need all three of these attributes if we are ever going to turn our passions and skills into anything worthwhile or profitable. But in order to count on all three, there is a fourth virtue that we must possess. A virtue which ensures the other three and holds them together like glue. Consistency. Consistency is the greatest superpower that anyone can have. Often times the difference between success and failure, isn’t talent or ability, but consistency. A man who can consistently do a good job, is more desirable than a man that can do a great job on an inconsistent basis. Sticking with our passions and skills is the great divider between those who really want it and those who don’t. If you can’t do something over a long period of time, you will never see the progress that you desire.

Having a high level intelligence is one of the most coveted attributes on the planet. Everyone wants to be considered smart. This is because being smart is naturally linked to a higher level of success. Of the most famous figures throughout history, there are very few, if any, that we would consider dumb. It is intelligence that increases your potential for success, and the intentional application of intelligence that allows you to achieve that success. I strongly believe that in today's society, we are seeing a decrease in average intelligence. You can blame the public school system, or lazy parents, but I personally would place the blame upon something much larger and much more important. The lack of truth, and subsequently, the absence of pursuit of truth. When a society is no longer provided with truth and the ambition to pursue it, idiocy prevails.