Give the Gold Watch Early

Give the “gold watch” while someone still has time to benefit from using it.

Text for Today – Romans 13:7 – Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

When you read the verse following our Text for Today in Romans, you see the words, “owe no man anything, but to love one another.”  Our Text for Today is one of the greatest leadership  and management principles ever known.  It is absolutely Biblical, and it works.  It works in the job place, in the grocery story, in school, in society, in church, and at home.

Don’t wait until someone is leaving, or has died to honor them.  That is such a sad scenario.  In too many situations, leaders choose to wait until a person retires or leaves the company to recognize and honor them.  Sadly, people who are treated in that manner could die before the retirement or departure date.  Another scenario is that people who feel neglected often begin to neglect their work and responsibilities, thus setting up a scenario for losing their job, being fired or discredited for poor performance.  When this happens, the cause for giving honor and celebrating productive service is removed, and a person either leaves or is dismissed in dishonor. 

However, when we operate according to our Text for Today, we don’t open the door for such things to happen.  Though it doesn’t totally prevent people from going the wrong way, or beginning to perform wrongly, it certainly creates an atmosphere that is far more conducive to living and performing in positive and creative ways that enhance life and brings blessing.  This lifestyle can be practiced with spouses, children, parents, employees, employers, church folks, and almost any other arena of relationship.  Determine to catch people doing something RIGHT,  When you do, make note of it, recognize it, compliment it, and reward it.  It may be no more than a kind word, an encouraging gesture, or drawing someone’s attention to it.  But whatever you do, reward it, reward it early, and reward it often.  Honor people while they live, before they die.  Reward them for the courage to live and produce.  I would much prefer being remembered for the life I live while I live it, than for my death.  I can’t improve after that, but I can improve while I’m still living.

Think of this.  Seeking God is a good thing, and God rewards those who diligently seek Him.  And He rewards them now, in this life.  You don’t always need a special occasion to recognize or reward someone who is deserving of it.  Just do it with a pure heart.  When you do, people will begin to seek you out.  What an awesome way to be His witness.

Manna for Today – Romans 13:7; Ephesians 4:29;  Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Hebrews 11:6