Plans of the Diligent

For Friday, April 13, 2007
Proverbs 21:5

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

This is a practical proverb to guide you today. It could make the difference between an action that leads to long-term blessing or long-term regret. Like a beautiful house built on poor land, many options look appealing but hide disastrous consequences. Many ideas seemed good "at the time," but proved to be foolish as time went on. Remember verse 2: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes." All the more reason then to prayerfully study, seek counsel, and plan. Many couples who come to me with troubled marriages are those who hastily married. Their passion at the time made marriage seem right and easy. How many people have switched jobs on impulse or moved to another town because at the moment they felt restless, only to become even more miserable?

Impulse is not necessarily bad and can provide a healthy spice in our routine. There are times when "the Spirit moves" and we should act. But when acting on impulse becomes the routine way of making decisions, then we are setting ourselves up for disaster. We will make bad decisions, and we will earn a reputation of not being trustworthy. There are persons who master diligent planning in the workplace, but let their emotions lead them in their personal lives. It is a mistake to treat family and friends as workplace projects for diligent planning; but it is a greater mistake to "wing it" in choosing a life-long mate, keeping a marriage vibrant, and raising a family.

When we think about it, we reveal how important anything is to us by the careful thought we give to it. Whatever grabs our interest is what we will plan to get, keep, and nurture. What has your interest now?