“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Slothful is a word from the sloths which are the laziest animals known. The opposite of slothful is fervent. Realize that an ounce of innovation is better than a pound of intentions. Slothful means unwilling to work; unorganized; lazy; put offs; postpone; tomorrow; procrastinate; idle; not now! Don’t be slothful! Do be fervent! My Onesiphorus poem (2 Tim. 1:15-18), “Did I do my all, when no one knew and no one saw.” Don’t do less than your best and do it as unto the Lord. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col.3:23). As you do it – do it heartily and say over and over as you do it, “As to the Lord.” Don’t start what you cannot finish. Some are always active but accomplish little.
What Have You Left Undone? “Unsown seeds reap no harvest. Unspoken words give no comfort. Unwritten songs do not bless. Unsent cards bless no one. Unwritten poems inspire no one. Unpreached messages are unheard. Ungiven love is unexpressed. Unfinished tasks are not rewarded. Ungiven tracts are just paper. Unwritten words are never read. What have you done? What have you left undone?” – TC.
Plan your work and work your plan. Replace bad habits with good habits. It has been proven that if you practice a good habit for 21 days it will become a new habit. Og Mandino said, “Develop good habits and become their slave.” Also Albert Gray said, “The secret of success lies in the fact that you formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.” God’s replacement program. “Put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man” (Col. 3:9-10). Adjust is a must! You must complete vital projects that reproduce and regenerate your ministry. Nothing grows without life. When you touch it – finish it! Delegate minor tasks – focus on major things. Keep the main thing the main thing. Greatness is not determined by what it takes to start you, but what it takes to stop you. Real success is helping others become successful. Also you can make yourself more valuable when you do what is expected, then do just a little more. Go the second mile with a smile.
Even Jesus had a to-do list. “And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). He said this over and over again until He finally said, “It is finished.” As you finish each major task you also are fulfilled because you know there is now one less task you will not face tomorrow. There is no well done for undone. As you close the office door and enter the door at home you can joyously say, “Honey, I’m home! I worked a good day!”
Now, “How to Waste a Good Day.” Well, that’s another article.
