Skilled Diligence

 

Upon reflection, most athletes who never made it to the professional level believe they were only one lucky bounce away from becoming a pro.The memory of our skills seems to supersede the reality of how our playing days ended without accomplishing any high level of competence. Sometimes our diligence pays off in rewarding us with high levels of accomplishment. It's very rare that someone becomes a star at anything without a lot of focus and perseverance. Sometimes we work too hard in the wrong arena of life.

 

The dreams of many hard working people are deflated in the end.

A successful businessman would not be hanging out with drug dealers and homeless people. Or would he? How do you define diligence?

 Here is today's Wise Saying: 

 

 Proverbs 22:29

New International Version (NIV)

Saying 6

²⁹ Do you see someone skilled in their work?
    They will serve before kings;
    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Proverbs 22:29

The Message (MSG)

²⁹ Observe people who are good at their work—
    skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
    they don’t take a backseat to anyone.

Proverbs 22:29

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁹ Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:29

King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

A man or woman who has diligently prepared themselves by studying the Bible would do spiritual business with everybody. I'm sure the proverb writers for this Wise Saying were pointing towards a hard work, due diligence and perseverance pays off kind of teaching. I agree, but I'd like to go deeper. Does someone who is martyred for their faith become an obscure person? How do you define spiritual obscurity?

Please understand that it is not my job to persuade you to believe as I do or think they way I do. My goal is to give you something to chew on. Examine the Proverb and soak on it. The most important thing you can ever do is accepting God's love and showing that acceptance by loving other people. To become skillful in business is a good thing. To stand before kings and wield influence in a positive way is a good thing. To be a skilled worker in demand who is admired is a good thing.

I went to a funeral once of a man who was a very respected businessman. He died too early. He had long neglected his family during the diligent pursuit of excellence in business. He was just starting to learn how to be a father when he died. Balance between God, family and business will help you stand before God beatifically (rapturously!)

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody
Jesus loves you and so do we.