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This Week's Scriptures & Reflection: Proverbs 6:6-9; I Corinthians 15:58
Any individual, regardless of their profession, can testify to the importance of diligent preparation in achieving a desired outcome. Without diligent preparation, athletes would be ill-equipped to compete to the best of their ability, surgeons would be incapable of performing successful operations, and lawyers would be unable to effectively defend their clients. Laziness is simply not a luxury that anyone working to achieve excellence can afford!
King Solomon, the purveyor of wisdom, offers us insight into the life of an unlikely subject who exemplifies diligent preparation. In Proverbs 6, he instructs the “sluggard”, or the lazy individual, to “Go to the ant,” and “observe her ways”: The ant “prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest”. The summer seems like the perfect time to cease from all work; nevertheless, the ant spends her summer laboring in preparation for the approaching winter season. She anticipates scarcity of food and limited travel during the winter so she works diligently in the earlier seasons to preserve the necessary resources for her colony’s survival. Furthermore, she accomplishes this task without the direct oversight of a “chief, officer, or ruler”. As opposed to waiting aimlessly for someone to tell her what to do, she takes the initiative to prepare in advance, proving herself to be proactive as opposed to reactive.
Similar to the ant, we too must remain diligent in seasons of preparation. We cannot afford to become complacent or lazy, or else we risk being unprepared to steward future opportunities! When we wholeheartedly commit ourselves to the work of preparation with vigor and stick-to-itiveness, we will see the fruit of that labor! This does not mean that we should disregard necessary rest along the way! Rest both rejuvenates and empowers us to continue working efficiently! However, understand that a lack of diligence, or persistence, does not bear a plentiful harvest. The manner in which we steward our current responsibilities will show the Lord whether or not we can be trusted with an increased level of responsibility and or visibility. Know that God will strengthen you to persist, even when you feel discouraged or depleted. His grace is sufficient to not only carry you through, but also to prosper you in the midst!