“The sobering reality is that we don’t have to do much of anything for our world to cave in. There is a subtle inertia in the most crucial area of our lives. Things don’t get better on their own, but they do tend to decline on their own.”- Jeff Manion
“I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.”- Proverbs 24:30-31 (NIV)
Moving on to Day 29 (“The Wall and the Weeds”), Week 6 of Dream Big, Think Small, Jeff Manion notes there’s one way for weeds to take over a garden. Just leave it alone. Weeds never need planting, cultivating, or fertilization. Weeds simply happen.
Similarly, the weeds of envy, bitterness, and slow-burning rage grow in our lives. As a result, one day we wake up to discover their presence. We demand, “Where did you come from?”
Therefore Pastor Manion adds:
“Things unravel by doing nothing. Weeds grow. Walls crumble. Slow and steady faithfulness will result in a harvest. So will slow and steady neglect.”
Consequently, it seems that, all of a sudden, things implode or fall apart. However, Jeff astutely notes, this so-called sudden disaster has been brewing for some time. Thus, although the neglect happens gradually, the collapse seems sudden.
Hence, King Solomon described a subtle path to ruin, where apathy leads to the mess. Rather than a single, huge mistake, slow and steady neglect allows the mess to grow. As Jeff states, it’s Ant Power in reverse.
Finally, Pastor Manion exhorts:
“Don’t let your pain be wasted. Use this challenging, humbling experience to begin building your life in a new and different way. The pathway to a renewed life often passes through seasons of disorienting failure. Don’t lose hope. Today is a new day.”
Today’s question: What Scriptures turn around the sobering reality that you need to do little for your world to cave in? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Repeated positive activity – devote yourself”