“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5
Those who prosper in life are those who have worked hard for it; it is impossible for a person who is lazy to be in abundance. Every religion teaches us to work hard and be diligent, so that over time, we reap what we sow. On the other hand, one who is wasting his time and does nothing will never have a fruitful life.
A lazy man will always find excuse for not doing things for he has no sense of urgency, is inactive and will have a tendency to run away from his responsibility.
Nowadays, we have to be aware of one who preaches that we do not have to work hard because God will provide. By comparing us to the newborn little birds in the nest, he is telling us we do not have to work, just wait for the time when the mother bird will come and feed us. This is indeed wrong teaching because God provides for those who work hard, who go out and try to make a living for themselves.
There is a difference between working hard and doing things in a rush. A person who does things hastily is unlikely to be meticulous, may not have given it a good thought and therefore make mistakes easily. The more important an issue is, the more time we need to spend on it and make sure we cover all angles before making a decision. As a result, we should not be afraid to spend more time to ponder over an issue, especially if it is one of life and death.
That said, the basis of living a successful life is to work hard and be smart; similar to knowledge going hand-in-hand with wisdom. If we work hard on a wrong issue and at the wrong time, we may not be able to enjoy the fruit of our labour. We therefore pray for God’s wisdom and understanding to be upon us as we work hard so that we can live a purposeful and fruitful life.