Scripture: Proverbs 21:5
Good
planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty
Whilst I was reading
this verse the word poverty stuck out at me because generally we associate
poverty with being extremely poor financially and I know that wasn’t what King
Solomon was talking about when he wrote this verse. Here he is talking about
poverty being something that is inferior, lacking, not its very best.
This verse is really telling us we need to stop rushing,
stop looking for the easy way, the quick way, the shortcut. What we need to do is
look at the goal we want to reach and to take care getting there. We need to
take ALL the steps needed to reach the goal and not look for shortcuts.
As a homeschooling mom I’m faced with this lesson almost on
a daily basis, especially when teaching a new math concept. You see I’m always
telling my daughter to write all the steps down, don’t miss any because then it
is easy to see where she went wrong, but as soon as she thinks she gets the
concept she starts skipping steps and of course she starts to get the answers
wrong.
It’s the same in life. God wants us to have the very best
and wants to have a relationship with us. He doesn’t want just some of us. He
doesn’t just want us on Sunday’s at church. He wants it ALL. He wants us to
plan our lives around Him and His word. He wants us to take the time to get to
know Him. In return He promises to bless us beyond measure. There are no
shortcuts when it comes time to grow and change. There are no shortcuts when it
comes time to have a real relationship with God. If you want something badly
enough you’ll put in the planning and you’ll do all the steps necessary to get
to the desired outcome – doesn’t God deserve that kind of focus?
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your loving guidance. As I go through today in
our fast paced lifestyle, show me where I’m taking shortcuts that are harmful
to me. Show me the correct planning I need to do so that my entire life will
prosper as you have promised. In your son’s precious name, Jesus I pray.
AMEN
Are you taking shortcuts in your spiritual, emotional,
physical life? Maybe you’re taking diet pills, for quick results instead of
changing to a healthier lifestyle? Maybe you’re buying things on credit instead
of saving and placing a budget into place? Maybe you’re only going to church on
Sunday’s and hoping that will get you through the week? Re-evaluate your goals
and lay out a plan and then take all the steps to get to the end result – the outcome
will be worth the work I promise.
