DO NOT (PART 5) – HONE YOUR CRAFT

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Proverbs 22:29          

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

NOTE: Will be at sea for the next two weeks and may be off the grid. If I can post, I will. If not, I will begin posting again as soon as I get to where I have connectivity.

If you read my writings regularly, you know I spent many years serving in the United States Navy, 28 and a half to be exact. During that time, I was blessed to reach levels of success that less than one percent of those who serve achieve but it didn’t happen overnight. It took many years of perfecting my craft, first in electronics and then in leadership and management. As I became more and more skilled, greater success followed as I moved up the ladder of Navy advancement.

During this ascent, I realized one important thing as it applied to success. If you polled across all those seeking it, you would find two factions.

One included all those who either didn’t care to succeed or weren’t willing to sacrifice and invest the effort. This was the larger group of Sailors I served with. Let me say that this didn’t mean they didn’t work hard in their respective trades. There’s a difference between working hard and being willing to take it to the highest levels to improve toward greatness.

The other group, smaller in number, were the ones who always strived to go the extra mile and hone their abilities to the point where they were distinguished and more talented than their peers.

As we continue to look at the 30 Sayings of the Wise, we find Solomon speaking of the latter group and the levels of success they attained. Look at Saying 6:

Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. Proverbs 22:29

Those who had worked diligently to be the best in their trade would not just serve anywhere. No, they would be the ones found serving before kings, kings who always sought to have the best in everything. The most valuable possessions. The grandest accommodations. The highest skilled workers.

Not just anyone got to serve a king in Solomon’s day and to get there took a lot of hard work, dedication, and committed practice coupled with a drive to be the best.

So what is our “do not” warning for today?

It’s “do not” underachieve. “Do not” settle for second best when it comes for any effort.

I say this because we today all fall under the rule and authority of a king and not just any king but THE King, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. God the Father placed Him in power over all of us, so much so that there is no access to God after this life is over except through Jesus, His Son (John 14:6). We are all in servitude to Him.

So how are we doing as we labor for our King? Are we bringing Him our best, ever seeking to hone our skills to be even better? Or are we underachieving, going through the motions each and every day while failing to bring honor and glory to His holy name?

Friends, Jesus never rested to give everyone His best. He poured Himself out for all mankind to ensure that we might live and not perish from our sinfulness. He was willing to work to the death for us because that’s how dedicated He was to us.

We owe it to Him to be just as dedicated in return. Do not settle for anything but your best and open your heart, mind, and soul to your Savior Jesus, allowing Him to take you there.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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