Year End Review – Proverbs in Practice
We did it, former procrastinators! Thank you for making the journey through Proverbs with me! It’s been eye-opening and particularly beneficial for those of us prone to delay. God addresses the issue of procrastination (slothfulness) and He prompts us to deal with many things easy to put off.
The following proverbs caught my attention in new ways. Here’s my personal take away for each in the order the Proverbs appear in the book.
To gain wisdom, I must spend diligent time in God’s Word, deliberately seeking wisdom. (1:23,25)
To have God’s guidance, seek an abiding relationship with Him. (3:5-6)
Exit the path that leads to evil. The path itself is wrong. The path of sin not the path to sin. (ch 5,6,7, 1:15)
I lose freedom of choice later when I’m not diligent early on. (12:24)
Recognize – then forsake or avoid – worthless pursuits. They suck up life, time, energy, thought. (28:19, 12:1)
Finish the job I start – the whole job. (12:27)
Don’t trust my perceptions to provide me with all the information I need to come to an accurate conclusion. (14:12)
Presuming I can do things later is risky. I have no control over later. Diligence makes a smooth path. (15:19)
Procrastination leads to hurry, pressure, and distrust that can harm relationships. (18:9)
When we repeatedly put off, delay becomes our default position, and we don’t even notice. (19:15)
Allowing natural consequences helps the slothful person begin to connect with reality and take responsibility. (20:4)
There’s always an excuse not to act. Even the Holy Spirit prompts us to do things that are uncomfortable. (22:13, 26:13)
Habitual neglect of responsibilities leads to my being surprised by not having what I need, being frightened by consequences, having no options, and being at the mercy of others. (24:30-34)
Procrastination is a matter of the heart and self-control. I bring on problems when I fail to exercise self-control. (25:28)
Slothfulness shows up in my thinking not just my actions. Humility improves my ability to rightly perceive my problem. (26:16)
Welcome correction. One man sharpens another. Seek out regular time with someone more mature in the faith and someone younger. Develop spiritually strong peer relationships. (12:1, 27:17)
We work because it’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it, not because we feel motivated. Diligence – doing what needs doing when it needs doing – does not require feeling.(20:13)
Rescue those being taken away to death. What does God want me to do? (24:11)
Be sensitive to the mental, physical, heart state of those under my care or supervision. 27:23
Which one or two proverbs stood out to you this year?
