Devotional: Diligence Leads to Profitable Relationships

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Proverbs 21:5

Bob and I were certainly hasty when we got married, just seven weeks after we met. We didn’t get the idea of taking time to get to know each other or do any sort of pre-marital counseling. We believed God put us together, so why wait?

This haste led to a detrimental marriage for nearly a decade. Our haste brought us into a poor marriage. We were both self-seeking, triggering each other into vicious arguments and looking for a way out. We had nothing to give and constantly ran on empty. 

When I thought about poverty before, I would think only of people without money. I’ve now realized we can experience poverty in our spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

When I take the time to plot out my path of discipline and keep my eye on the right things, it usually is met with benefit… or profit. Spending time with God strengthens my relationship with him. Slowing down allows me to create space in my days for relationships with depth. Even a few minutes of daily exercise brings my physical body strength so I can continue to serve God well.

Now in our twentieth year of marriage, I recognize a profitable relationship (of any kind) takes time, diligence, strategy, and commitment to grow as time goes on

Prayer: Father, show me today where I am to accept my circumstances and where I am to increase my diligence. May my diligence for profit not be motivated by self-glory but to bring glory to your name alone. May I seek to be an encouragement to those in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.