A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4)
Have you ever worked for something? Whether you put the money in a piggy bank, or used credit and paid it off, you probably know that feeling of paying the last penny so that now it’s yours. There may be lots of other stuff that would be nice to have, but you’ve earned this. You have a sense of satisfaction. Then, there’s the other end. The person who hasn’t earned something but looks on with envy, longing, and hunger. I’ve known both. I’ve watched husbands and wives, and parents and children and at times, I can feel hurt. Why can’t I have that? Maybe because husband-shopping is low on my list of preferences. I’m not interested in going out just to figure out if I like a guy. I want to go out to enjoy the movie, or the dinner, or whatever I agreed to go out for. And if I’m enjoying my evening of watching a movie, it’s irritating to think, “Oh yeah, I have to ignore the movie and pay attention to the person I’m watching it with – which means I’m not watching it. What a waste!” In other words, when it comes to relationships (especially with men) I’m a sluggard.
But there are other areas. I spent nearly two decades working on a family history. I’m coming to the end of my third year of working on one novel (yes, I’m working on two more now, but I’m still working on the first.) I’m a hard worker, so I also understand the sense of satisfaction, the fulfillment of desires that comes from diligence. I also understand that the having of the thing is satisfying because the work done to earn it is satisfying. I learned this lesson while doing genealogy. Every time I found something, the finding was a reward making me want to find something more.
Whenever I feel as if I can’t work toward the goal, the sluggard takes control, and satisfaction flees.
Have you ever worked for something? Whether you put the money in a piggy bank, or used credit and paid it off, you probably know that feeling of paying the last penny so that now it’s yours. There may be lots of other stuff that would be nice to have, but you’ve earned this. You have a sense of satisfaction. Then, there’s the other end. The person who hasn’t earned something but looks on with envy, longing, and hunger. I’ve known both. I’ve watched husbands and wives, and parents and children and at times, I can feel hurt. Why can’t I have that? Maybe because husband-shopping is low on my list of preferences. I’m not interested in going out just to figure out if I like a guy. I want to go out to enjoy the movie, or the dinner, or whatever I agreed to go out for. And if I’m enjoying my evening of watching a movie, it’s irritating to think, “Oh yeah, I have to ignore the movie and pay attention to the person I’m watching it with – which means I’m not watching it. What a waste!” In other words, when it comes to relationships (especially with men) I’m a sluggard.
But there are other areas. I spent nearly two decades working on a family history. I’m coming to the end of my third year of working on one novel (yes, I’m working on two more now, but I’m still working on the first.) I’m a hard worker, so I also understand the sense of satisfaction, the fulfillment of desires that comes from diligence. I also understand that the having of the thing is satisfying because the work done to earn it is satisfying. I learned this lesson while doing genealogy. Every time I found something, the finding was a reward making me want to find something more.
Whenever I feel as if I can’t work toward the goal, the sluggard takes control, and satisfaction flees.
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