Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Proverbs 6 and Psalm 43

Today’s devotional focuses on Proverbs 6:6-11. These verses teach about applying wisdom to the area of work. They are addressed to the “lazybones” in the NLT, or the “sluggard” in older translations, and invoke the example of the industrious little ant. These industrious insects, the proverb declares, do not need a task-master to get them going. Through self-discipline, and with great wisdom, they work hard evey day of the summer to provide for the leaner winter days ahead. One might say that they “strike while the iron’s hot” – if one was inclined to mix metaphors shamelessly, that is.

On the positive side: When tempted to laziness or procrastination about a task at hand, Wisdom inspires us to opt for working hard. Our instinctive decision in situations where we can see there is work to be done ought to be to get the work done wisely and effectively. After all, wisdom is about being able to rightly apply knowledge. So, if we know a task for which we are responsible must be done, and we have the time available to do it, and we have the skill to get it done, then wisdom dictates that we should make every effort to complete the task as soon as possible.

On the negative side: Wisdom warns us that if we opt for procrastination and fail to take action when it is needed, “poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Whereas someone who works hard can look forward to “later” because it brings the reward for work well done, the sluggardly “lazybones” has every reason to dread the future, which will bring only lack. Putting off work for tomorrow is a profoundly unwise course of (in)action.

God of all wisdom, please strengthen me to make the right choices today and to embrace the challenge of proactive hard work, turning my back on laziness and procrastination to the glory of Your name and for my own good. Amen.