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    Mr. Boswell, the owner of a hardware store, was looking for a young man to hire. Several dozen young men responded to his ad, but he eventually narrowed his choice down to three: Ted, John, and Bob. Then he devised a final test. He gave each of them a new screwdriver set with an innovative design and told them to deliver it to Mr. C.M. Henderson at 314 Maple Street.

    After awhile, Ted phoned the store to ask whether the number was actually 413, rather than 314. Later, he returned saying there was no house at that address.

He was given a task to do and he did it.

    When John came back, he reported that 314 Maple was a funeral parlor and that Mr. Henderson had lived at 314-1/2, but had moved away.

    Bob took longer than the other two young men. Like John, he also discovered that Mr. Henderson had moved away, but he managed to secure his new address and had gone there. Mr. Henderson didn’t recall ordering the screwdriver, but when Bob pointed out its unique features and told him the price, Mr. Henderson decided he wanted the screwdriver and paid for it on the spot.

    Which young man was hired? Bob, of course. He was given a task to do and he did it. As Christians, we shouldn’t let any obstacle Satan puts in our paths stop us from reaching God’s goals for us. The secret to success in our lives is to do the common things uncommonly well. Solomon understood this principle when he wrote in Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.”

    Persistance and patience produces payoff in our lives. Even when it doesn’t appear to do so, it produces a payoff in character.