January 29, 2026

Business by the Book

Genesis 24:2-4 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Two business owners were discussing their companies. One asked the other, “How many people do you have working for you?”  The other replied, “About half of them!”   It is rare to find good help, people who will work, and employees that can be trusted to complete tasks without fail. Such however was the type of man Abraham sent on the very important job of finding a wife for his son.

This unnamed servant displays a work ethic that is as rare as it is refreshing. Individuals that can be trusted to “get the job done” as well as this servant did will always be welcomed in any business environment, and will probably always survive the layoffs that seem to be so rampant today. Any wise business owner or manager will do all they can to keep employees that embody the “can do” attitude that this servant displayed.

My good friend, Dr. Cabel Roberts, once worked for the old First Baptist Church Fort Worth under Dr. J. Frank Norris. After just a few days on the job, Dr. Norris passed my friend in a church hallway and told him to pick up Mrs. Norris at home and bring her to church that night. This was in the early 1950s and Dr. Roberts was still in Bible College; he had no car, had no phone, and did not know the address of the Norris’s or even know where they lived, but he said, “Yes, sir”. Dr. Roberts borrowed a car, asked someone where Dr. Norris lived and was told that they lived by the lake. He figured they were speaking about Eagle Mountain Lake, so my friend drove out to the lake and began asking people if they knew where the Norris’s lived. Finally someone at a bait shop was able to give him directions to their house. He waited until the proper time, drove up to the house, collected Mrs. Norris and made sure she was on time for church. Where is that dependability and creativity today among workers? Sparse to find, to say the least.

Find a way to do that which you are asked with little guidance, prodding, or supervision; do the job with determination, creativity, and resolve. Complete the task speedily, competently, and thoroughly and important jobs will search you out. Guaranteed!

Dr. William Howe