Picture a young professional fresh out of school. His career is very lucrative… and he lives like it. A nice car, a nice house, a nice lifestyle: He lives within his means – but just barely.
Fast forward several years. Now he’s fired, he can’t find a job, his house has been foreclosed, the bills are piling up, and there seems to be no hope. Exasperated, he turns to God wondering when God will intervene. After all, didn’t God say he’d provide for our needs?
But then he wonders to himself if God’s way of providing for his needs now was to bless him with bountiful provision for the last few years. If he had been wise and built up a padding of savings instead of spending every penny, how different would his life be now?
This story may sound familiar to you, but let’s change a few aspects. Instead of money that is being squandered, think about time.
Hindsight is 20/20
What are you doing with today? You can spend your time without a care for the future or you can invest it now to reap dividends later.
Will you be a 30-year old wishing you had invested your spare time going to school in your 20’s instead of playing video games? Will you be a 40-year old wishing that you taken better care of your physical body instead of watching TV? Will you be a 50-year old wishing that you had worked less and had more of a relationship with your wife and children?
What can you do now to position yourself better for the future?
Seize the Opportunity
One of your friends tells you that his company is hiring and would love to have you. The pay is more, and the job seems better in every way. This is one of those cases of opportunity knocking.
Yet, we sometimes forget that opportunity takes different forms. It may not always be as pleasantly obvious as a random job offer.
Your opportunity may come in the form of free time in your early 20’s. Your opportunity may come in a little extra disposable income while you and your wife are both childless and working.
What opportunities do you have around you right now? Don’t wait for them to slap you in the face. Be aggressive about rooting them out.
Be Like the Ant
Proverbs 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
8she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
The ant is commended for its wisdom and work ethic. It recognizes opportunity and takes full advantage.
What about you?
Could you invest 30 minutes a day reading to further your education?
Could you take on a part time job and devote that money to paying off your mortgage?
Could you wake up early and go for a jog instead of sleeping in?
Could you listen to a sermon online once or twice a week instead of watching TV?
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