Proverbs 14: 18-19
“18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” – Proverbs 14:18
Isn’t it easy to take the easy way out? The less work, the better. Am I right? Or am I right? No. This way of thinking is actually quite wrong. Today’s society and generation is all about shortcuts and the fastest way to get things done. However, in a constant lifestyle of shortcuts, you are not able to learn the life lessons that come with doing things the long way- the right way. Not to say that shortcuts are never good, sometimes they can be a blessing! Mostly, however, taking the “long way” to do things results in perfection and the mastering of a skill. Though you may try and fall flat on your face in an attempt to do something new the right way, you get right back up and “try, try again.” As you continue to learn a new skill, you fail and succeed back and forth until the skill is perfected.
This idea of truly working at something instead of taking shortcuts can be used in the example of evangelizing and engaging in a discipleship relationship with people. The shortcut way of doing this would be to take the outline of the Gospel message and throw it at anyone who has ears, then packing up your bags because you’ve done your good deed for the day. The “long way” would be to get to know the person through intentional conversation, and prayerfully approach that person with the Gospel when the Holy Spirit leads, involving- no, depending on the Lord in every step of the way. Then from there, walking with the new believer in a discipleship relationship so that you are not just telling and winning them to the Lord to rack up “Salvation Points” (there is no such thing), rather, you are telling them the Gospel, winning them to the Lord, building them up in this new relationship with God, and then sending them out to do the same for others. The shortcut type of way leaves people out in the cold to fend and figure this faith thing out for themselves. I would rather not abandon a newborn (Christian), leaving them out in the cold. Conforming to the pattern of the world is not the only thing that leads to a lifestyle of shortcuts, the next verse in Proverbs 14 shows us another example.
“19 Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.”
Do you ever feel like you just aren’t being recognized for the good things that you are doing? You’re overwhelmed by to do lists and exhausted from work, on top of being at every church service and being a Good Samaritan everywhere you go. This exhausting cycle wears you down to the point that inside you are screaming, “CAN SOMEONE PLEASE JUST SAY THANK YOU? Or Good Job? Or I appreciate you?!?” The tough combination of being overwhelmed and underappreciated have just about worn you down to the core, and you are so close to just giving up the servant hearted Christian lifestyle because it’s just not worth it anymore. You begin to consider taking shortcuts- because no one is noticing or appreciating your hard work anyways, so it’s pointless. Sound familiar? Allow me to give you some refreshing news.
What you are doing does not go unseen. You have a Good Father in Heaven who sees everything you do, and treasures those little hidden things that you think no one appreciates you for. Think of it this way: when a young child competes in a competition and does their very best, but does not win the trophy, their parents are not going to cast the child our of their family because they did not earn a piece of metal (or plastic). A good parent will be thrilled with their kid for trying their best and leaving it all on the floor, or field, or court- wherever. The Lord is the same way. He sees everything you do and smiles at you because of them. Just because you may not always be recognized for the things that you do on earth does not mean that you aren’t appreciated at all. No, at the end of time, the final triumph of good over evil will come and Proverbs 14:19 will come to fruition. For now, avoid the “shortcut lifestyle” and continue to work humbly for the Lord, expecting nothing in return except for a smile from the Father.