November 5, 2022 -- Proverbs 25:28 and 18:9 -- Self-motivation

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A man without self-control
   is like a city broken into and left with no walls.
Proverbs 25:28 ESV

A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
Proverbs 18:9 NLT

The character trait in focus for today is self-motivation. The opposite is laziness. A man who is self-motivated takes care of his life. His wife and children are well-cared for. His property is neat and cleaned up. His work is organized. His free time is managed and does not exceed all bounds. A man who is self-motivated recognizes all he has is a gift from the LORD and as such requires good management and stewardship. He doesn't need to be prompted and constantly reminded to do the work that is required of him.

Look at the first proverb—self motivation is a man who has self-control. He guards his city against the enemy. He protects the gates. He maintains the walls so that the enemy cannot breach them. When self-motivation is gone, the enemy walks in. The walls are torn down. The ruin is great and the work to rebuild is costly indeed.

Laziness is something that most are familiar with. There is a meme that has been circulating, it makes one laugh and then think. It goes like this: “Procrastinators got it good. They have plans for tomorrow and nothing to do today.” The problem is tomorrow is never arriving. The next day becomes today, and plans are endlessly put off until there is complete ruin and destruction.

How great is the LORD God Almighty. He gives pleasure in work. He makes it a delight to complete tasks and to use one’s gifts and talents. Self-motivation is like exercising. You don’t exercise and you don’t feel like it. The less you exercise, the less likely you are to start. However, if you push against the inertia, then, amazingly, some exercise prompts more willingness and more desire to exercise. When one pushes through the inertia and is motivated to live life fully for Jesus, this truly does result in greater desire to live more fully for Him. The Spirit of God adds the blessing of God to the one who is serving and spreads such blessings to many all around.

LORD OF THE CLOUD AND FIRE,
I am a stranger, with a stranger's indifference;
   My hand holds a pilgrim's staff,
   My march is Zionward,
   My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,
   My heart is in thy hands without reserve.
Thou hast created it,
   redeemed it,
   renewed it,
   captured it,
   conquered it.
Keep from it every opposing foe,
   crush in it every rebel lust,
   mortify every treacherous passion,
   annihilate every earthborn desire.
All faculties of my being vibrate to thy touch;
I love thee with soul, mind, body and strength,
   might, spirit, affection, will,
   desire, intellect, understanding.
Thou art the very perfection of all perfections;
 All intellect is derived from thee;
My scanty rivulets flow from thy unfathomable fountain.
Compared with thee the sun is darkness,
   all beauty deformity,
   all wisdom folly,
   the best good faulty.
Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than
   my dull heart can yield;
Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily
   to thee,
   tightly entwine itself round thee,
   be allured by thee.
Then shall my walk be endless praise.
"Journeying On" The Valley of Vision, page 198

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