Move From Desire to Action

Proverbs 13:4

4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

King Solomon notes the difference between a lazy man and one who is diligent. The man who is lazy will simply dream but not take action. But the man who dreams and moves to action succeeds.

Daydreaming about what you would like to be and have is not a bad thing. For it gives you a vision. However, lining up those visions for yourself, according to what God has for you, is important. Moreover, when you have successfully lined up the desires of your  heart with that of what the Lord wants for you, and the Lord gives the steps and opportunities to take, then you have the choice to move to action. Many say, "I want to be___ " or "I want to do ___" but one who is lazy will be more content to talk about it rather than do it. A desire is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as to long or hope for, a strong wish or longing, a formal request for action, something desired. There is more but not relevant to this text. So you can hope for something and make a formal request for action but you are the one who must act. Diligent is defined as steady, earnest and energetic effort: painstaking. So in other words it means to work.

If you are lazy about what God has gifted you with then all you will have is your dreams and when you die, they die with you. But if you put steady, energetic effort into them, God will bless you. So what's it going to be? Is today the day you move from desire to action?

The Fountain of Understanding

Proverbs 16:22
22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.

The ever wise King Solomon noted that "understanding" ought to be a fountain. A fountain is a source where water flows. And according to King Solomon, understanding ought to flow in one's life. But as he said, "to those who have it". Not everyone has understanding and quite frankly, not everyone seeks it. There are some of us in life who deny every bit of understanding because gaining it means we have to be held responsible for our actions, and the truth of knowing that ignorance is not bliss in the long run doesn't seem as exciting to some. God is the source of ALL understanding that is true, that is right, that is pure. So why then do we deny it and Him? As King Solomon said, lacking it not only makes us a fool but we bring about our own punishment. Are we really willing to pay the price that comes along with our foolish behavior? For most of us, that answer is no but hopefully we get it before it's too late.