First Things First

Devotional for 1.3.12

Happy New Year, dear sisters! How are you? I pray well! In 2012 may He teach us wisdom in the inmost place as we seek to fear Him – honoring Him with our words, actions, and choices. Have a wisdom-filled week!

During the month of January we’ll focus on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 24 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

Proverbs 24:27

Priorities. It’s what parents teach their children when they insist that they eat their veggies before they may have dessert, and finish their homework before going outside to play. Priorities are the way of the wise. The wise do their work in good order: first things first! Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house (Proverbs 24:27).

Contrast the work ethic of the wise to the foolish. I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30-34).

Whether the work we do is in our homes, at a place of employment, or the volunteer work done for ministries like GEMS Girls’ Clubs, how can we be wise it?

1. Do your very best! The Proverbs 31 woman teaches us this lesson well. She’s not just for Mothers’ Day sermons, ladies. Read her story. Be inspired by her strong character and work ethic. Learn from her resourcefulness and diligence. Do battle against the enemy who wants to use her story to intimidate Christian women and cause all sorts of insecurities to seep from our pores. Like this woman of noble character set about your work vigorously (Proverbs 31:17).

2. Complete the task! At one point the sluggard was at work in the vineyard. He initially invested labor and seed, but didn’t follow it through to completion. He neglected to finish his work (Proverbs 24:30-34)! How many half-finished projects do you and I have right now? First things first. Complete one task before beginning another!

3. Use your hands! Lazy hands make a man (woman) poor, but diligent hands bring wealth (Proverbs 10:4). There is a time to use our hands to work and a time to fold our hands to rest. The wise apply their hearts to God’s wisdom about work and know when it is time for one and not the other.

Wisdom Step: What wisdom will you apply to your work today?

Refusal to embrace a diligent work ethic is sinful because it violates a primary call God has given us as Christians – to echo our Creator who works.

Anthony Selvaggio