Which direction are you looking, backwards or to the future?

Probing Proverbs 12:23 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

The principle communicated in this Proverb is something every person needs to memorize into his or her psyche! Even when it comes to one of the most difficult issues, “riches” this principle proves more times to be true than not.

Consider: The Scriptures warn of the dangers of trusting in money:

Psalm 62:10 … And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.

Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall

Proverbs 27:24 for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.

1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

BUT, please remember, money is not the problem – our heart attitude is:

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

So what’s my point? Glad you asked! :)  Even when we take a difficult item like money the principle from this Proverb proves itself valid in most cases. History has shown us that so many of the rich end up destroying themselves. Even Solomon almost committed spiritual suicide. 
However, if we look at all the statistics of people that have become rich we will see how this Proverb rings true. Think about how many individuals that received their riches based on nothing they did; they won a lotto, or it was inherited, how many of those folks have become slaves to their money and in the end it destroyed them. Almost every lotto winner blows all they have quickly and is worse off in the end. So many that have inherited their wealth are destroyed by it. How many lives have been wasted or left in ruin because of a “get rich quick” mentality?

When we look at the individuals that worked hard to establish a financial empire, it is true there will be many that implode, however, of all the rich, the percentage that understood wealth, how to use it, what it really was for and how to treat it as their slave instead of the reverse, the number is overwhelming that these are those that worked hard.

If this principle is true with something as volatile as money; it will be far truer when it comes to other areas of life. Whatever the field or goal, if you work hard, you can be the master of it. If you are lazy and desire it to be handed to you, you will become the slave of “wanting to have,” yet never attaining! Michael Jordan was given natural height and talent by God, but if he had been lazy we would not know him and he might be sitting on a couch watching basketball wishing he was out there. Instead he worked hard and that was honored by God. This is true in all aspects of life.

I have realized that in every area of my life, the harder I work at what I believe the Lord is calling me to do, the more He honors it. I have discovered, with some regret, that I missed some opportunities with certain talents because I was lazy. Even now, after almost 40 years of marriage, I realize if I had worked harder to be a great husband I could have brought my wife greater joy.

Let me end with this challenge, it is NEVER too late. You can either spend the rest of your future looking back, consumed with regret…By The Way, regret that may not really be what you think it is; only God can judge a life, even yours! Instead, you can look ahead at your Creator and know He wants to continue to grow you until the day you are with Him! In this last year I have learned so much about being a better husband, but it has been hard work, AND it is worth it! Don’t give up on yourself, God never does!

The so what? When was the last time you evaluated your life? (Not Judged) On your list of what you desire to accomplish, what work must take place for you to see that goal met. Do you spend more time thinking of the past or planning the future? Are you stretching yourself to learn new things on a consistent basis?