An object\nlesson in following the rules is a good way to start the new year. For a visual\naid, use a huge check made out to any student; include a large sum in the\namount space, or the word \u201csuccess.\u201d Here\u2019s the lesson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A student\nonce argued with me that following all the school rules and my classroom rules\nwas a useless waste of time. Why couldn\u2019t he just do things the way he wanted\nto, as long as he could pass the tests? Here\u2019s the answer I gave him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJohn, when\nyou leave high school, I assume you will immediately start your own company\nwith your own money and resources and begin living your life to your complete\nsatisfaction.\u201d He gave me the startled look I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019ll\nhave to get a job and earn some money before I could start a business,\u201d was his\nreply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\nbusiness will you start?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t\nknow if I had really thought about starting my own business. I just want to get\na job so I can earn enough money to do what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, what\nyou are saying is that you will go to work for someone else in order to get\nwhere you want to be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, that\u2019s\nthe only way I know how to do it,\u201d John said, as if I had to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you\nagree to let the company train you in a job? Will you read the company rule\nbook and the procedures manual if it is required for this job? Will you do what\nthe boss tells you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess so;\nI\u2019d probably get fired if I didn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d I\nexclaimed. \u201cYou will do what someone else tells you to do in order to get where\nyou want to be. And will this company pay you before you have done your work?\nOf course not. Look at your situation here at school as your job right now.\nYour diploma is your paycheck. You are doing what the boss says in order to get\nthat paycheck. If you are willing to do that next year, why not get a head\nstart on it this year? Practice being in your job now.\u201d This made sense to John\nand he became much more agreeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take this\nexample one step further. Being in God\u2019s will is like pleasing the boss, if you\nwill pardon my worldly comparison. We are told numerous times in Scripture that\nwe will not be truly happy unless we are in God\u2019s will. And it is not in my\nBible that we can be happy (pass the test) without conducting our life His way.\nWe are warned of trying to conduct our own affairs in our own way in the\nparable of the lost son (Luke 15). Just as we make up our minds to do\nwhat we need to do in this earthly life for rewards, make up your mind to do\nwhat needs to be done for the blessings of God now (Ephesians 3:20). More\nimportantly, seek the eternal reward, the big paycheck (Matthew 6:19-21).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7923","eutychus-article","type-eutychus-article","status-publish","hentry","category-eutychus"],"yoast_head":"\n