“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:9-10 Today’s blog entry deals with the importance of hard work.
How would you feel if one of your friends told you that they plan to compete in the upcoming Olympics during some of the track and field events? When asked if they have been training, they reply by saying, “No, I don’t feel like training, but I prayed and asked God to let me run in the next Olympics, so be sure to look for me on TV when they show the track and field events.” You probably would have a “Come on, be serious now” expression on your face. And while God could definitely allow someone who hadn’t been training, to qualify for the Olympics, the person should still train, and do the practical things that will help them prepare for competition.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” – Proverbs 13:4
Hard work is an important part of life. God is the one who gives us the abilities, and we should put what He has given us to use in a positive way. It’s important for us to have faith in God, and we should also put works with our faith. As it says in James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” We should pray and be lead by God regarding the goals/things we pursue. We should also be willing to put in the time and effort that it will take to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For instance, God could open the door for a person to receive a college scholarship, yet if they don’t do the practical things that need to be done (Applying to the college, completing certain paperwork, etc), they can miss out on the opportunity. Likewise, it’s important that we do not overlook the practical things that need to be done in our lives in order to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For someone who owns a business, that may mean writing up a new marketing plan. For a student that’s trying to get better grades, that may mean putting in more study time. And for a person trying to qualify for the Olympics, that may mean putting in more training time (or in the example of the person mentioned earlier, beginning the process of training altogether).
I also want to point out that we should work hard regardless of what other people around are doing. If you work at a job where many of your co-workers slack off, don’t allow that to rub off on you. Keep working hard. Set a good example. Work as unto the Lord.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” - Colossians 3:10
How would you feel if one of your friends told you that they plan to compete in the upcoming Olympics during some of the track and field events? When asked if they have been training, they reply by saying, “No, I don’t feel like training, but I prayed and asked God to let me run in the next Olympics, so be sure to look for me on TV when they show the track and field events.” You probably would have a “Come on, be serious now” expression on your face. And while God could definitely allow someone who hadn’t been training, to qualify for the Olympics, the person should still train, and do the practical things that will help them prepare for competition.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” – Proverbs 13:4
Hard work is an important part of life. God is the one who gives us the abilities, and we should put what He has given us to use in a positive way. It’s important for us to have faith in God, and we should also put works with our faith. As it says in James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” We should pray and be lead by God regarding the goals/things we pursue. We should also be willing to put in the time and effort that it will take to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For instance, God could open the door for a person to receive a college scholarship, yet if they don’t do the practical things that need to be done (Applying to the college, completing certain paperwork, etc), they can miss out on the opportunity. Likewise, it’s important that we do not overlook the practical things that need to be done in our lives in order to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. For someone who owns a business, that may mean writing up a new marketing plan. For a student that’s trying to get better grades, that may mean putting in more study time. And for a person trying to qualify for the Olympics, that may mean putting in more training time (or in the example of the person mentioned earlier, beginning the process of training altogether).
I also want to point out that we should work hard regardless of what other people around are doing. If you work at a job where many of your co-workers slack off, don’t allow that to rub off on you. Keep working hard. Set a good example. Work as unto the Lord.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” - Colossians 3:10