Will The Persistence In Me, Please Stand Up!

“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Pr 13:4)

Some think wealth accumulation is the result of a series of uncontrollable events called luck or chance. Others believe it is solely the result of a person’s deliberate, well thought out financial planning and activities performed during the course of their lives. Our look into the Wisdom of God reveals that, “diligence is at the source of wealth accumulation and laziness is the culprit behind poverty and despair”.

It takes more than just wants and desires to produce success and wealth. The difference between unproductive people and those that are highly successful is not in their possessions. It goes deeper than that. The difference between a person that refuses to work when given the opportunity and a person that works hard to obtain success is not in their actions. It goes deeper than that. The difference between these two, fundamentally different, groups of individuals goes deeper than their desires; their hopes; their aspirations; or even their dreams.

It all begins with diligence. Diligence is found in the soul of a person, the place where our desires, emotions, and passions resides. Diligence stems from the inner being of a person. It’s where one’s character is revealed. The actions that one takes without being asked or demanded will ultimately determine the longterm outcome of a person’s life. Consider the following statement:

“A lazy person will end up poor, but a hard worker will become rich. (Pr 10:4)(NCV)

When the Bible speaks of the lethargic or idle individual, it does not speak to the lack of opportunity, or the circumstances that are beyond the control of that person. One person’s life situations may be harder and more difficult when compared to someone else. And without diligence, it leads to hopelessness, discouragement, and ultimately paralysis. Regardless of life’s situations, the diligent person is persistent and makes deliberate choices to work harder… and that diligence produces wealth.

On the other hand, the unproductive person desires material processions and yearns for wealth and success. They aspire and want a better life, but fail to take the deliberate actions and efforts required to have it. Under achievers are not willing to pay the high price of hard work to reach their goal. However, a person of diligence produces wealth. The Hebrew word for ‘diligent’ means sharp and pointed. It speaks to a deliberate and focused decision making processes toward hard work. After all is said and done, the difference is one’s work ethic.

Long term and lasting success requires a present day sacrifice. It requires a commitment to persistent hard work in order to produce future benefits and financial rewards. The character trait that these Bible passages encourage is diligence! Make a conscience decision today, to get up and take action that is within your ability! Get up from the TV; the sitcoms and reality shows; Leave the video games! Leave the comfort of the coach and the leisure of the game room! Strive to overcome the self-piety, the lost opportunities, the fears and the never ending disappointments that life has in store. Hard work pays off and working hard breeds future success.

Thoughts to Ponder

1. Have you ever asked the Lord to evaluate your work ethic? What do you think His appraisal of your efforts will reveal?
2. How do you determine ‘too much’ versus ‘not enough’ effort to achieve your stated goal?
3. Have you ever considered clever schemes, quick money, Get Rich Quick or shortcuts to success? Lord, forgive me for that!