Making the Grade

Nº 266

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - September 5, 2023

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has. Henry Ward Beecher

In a box of my mother’s mementos, I found several of my elementary school report cards. The left side of the folders recorded my academic progress. My grades were decidedly average – a few A’s, mostly B’s and C’s, and a couple of D’s.

The opposite side of the folders reported my behavior and attitudes: E indicated excellent, S satisfactory, and U unsatisfactory. Again, I did okay but had a few U’s that needed improvement.

Life’s report card has two sides as well – productivity and character. We tend to focus on the productivity side; we want to be wealthy, successful, and respected. But too often, high marks on the productivity side come at the expense of our character.

Jesus told a story about a man who got straight A’s in his work life. He did so well, he tore down his little barns and built bigger barns to store all his successes. He thought he was set for life, and he was – briefly.

Luke records, “But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you!” (Luke 12:20a) The soul-care side of his “scorecard” needed greater attention. Measure success by the quality of your Christlike character rather than the superficial grades of the world.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc