3.6- Three thousand years ago someone wrote that a little foolishness can ruin a lot of positive good will.

 3.6-

Three thousand years ago someone wrote that a little foolishness can ruin a lot of positive good will.

Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom and honor.

I have had several jobs that taught me a lot about life. In many I failed a lot before I learned how to succeed. Farmer, rancher, gardener, hay hauler, cotton measurer, grocer, butcher, teacher, coach, counselor, chaplain, youth minister, minister, minister trainer, writer and in each of these jobs it took me six months to figure out that I didn't know how to do it and needed help to learn and grace and space to try again.

One of my favorite jobs was working in Abilene Texas near the ACU campus as a grocer and butcher. I could cut up a chicken in a minute or so and I could arrange the produce so it looked attractive. I could check out and carry out and do most of the jobs. I could even put the money in the safe and lock up and night. I learned many of these jobs by making mistakes and being corrected with a spirit of hope and trust that I would improve.

My boss, Bill Agnew, became one of my best friends. I was honored to serve as an honoray pall bearer at his service. I pray for my kids and grandkids to be surrounded by good business workers on a daily basis.

Among good workers where is no sexual immorality to get ahead. Even off color, discounting remarks are discouraged. Fairness with employees is normal. Anger, rage, malice and slander and deceit are not accepted. This is the way of life of a follower of Jesus at work. If these standards are followed great things can happen. Show up on time. Do your job well. Concentrate on being the best employee you can be. Treat your employer, or peer or downline person the way you want to be treated and it is often the case that you will succeed. Provide for yourself. And others. And feel fulfilled.

Avoid the temptation to put the flies of foolishness in your work life. Do the right thing and have fun at work and help your customers to have fun at work and good things will happen.

Colossians 3.

3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5 Therefore, [b]treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. 9 [g]Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self, which is being [i]renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [j]barbarian, [k]Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and [l]patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m]the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing [s]one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Family Relations

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing [t]to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not [u]antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

22 [v]Slaves, obey those who are your [w]human masters in everything, not with [x]eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [aa]that without partiality.

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2Sandy Wallace and Ben Cross