"Wisdom Cries Out"
Is It Worth It or Worthless?
“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12.11)
What you do today affects your life tomorrow. Like the farmer who makes plans and works for a future harvest, you must engage activities that will benefit your future. This requires prioritizing what is important and not simply urgent or pleasurable. The problem is that many important tasks don’t need to be done today, while other urgent (though less important) tasks call for immediate response.
Sometimes the urgent needs to be addressed, but it is foolish to allow immediate needs to dictate your life. The wise man emphatically calls these worthless pursuits. He’s not simply talking about the obvious time wasters (binge watching Netflix, constant attention to politics and news media, etc.), but also things that steal your energy and attention. Allowing present and pressing needs to dictate choices makes you a slave to the present and keeps you from reaping the future harvest you desire. And so, you must narrow your focus and be stingy with your time and energy.
This isn’t saying you can’t have free time. We need times for leisure and recreation. That’s the reason God established the Sabbath – for rest and rejuvenation. But you need to be intentional about it and allow it to refresh you. Even in leisure you must be disciplined and make the best use of the time we have (Ephesians 4.15). After all, we are only promised today (Matthew 6.34; James 4.13-16).
If you’re not prioritizing activities that benefit your future, you’re not thinking wisely. Take a moment to write down the things that are important to you. Make a priority list, and before you do anything ask yourself, “Is it worth it, or is it worthless?”
It is within your power to have a better future. So, do something today your future self will thank you for.
“Do not be deceived... a man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6.7)
