Proverbs 10:5
"He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully"
This proverb reminds us of a crucial truth: there is a time to act. When that time comes, then you should act. It is possible to wait too long; to do too much planning; to keep putting off to the future the opportunities that are here right now.
I was just reading a report that a high percentage of people who retire thought they would have more, but they just never got around to saving. It was summer while they were working, and now that it is time to live off of what they harvested, it is gone.
This principle is also true in relationships. There are times when one can connect; when it is summer in that relationship – whether it is romance or parenting or friendships or networking. One has to seize the day when it is harvest time.
Our culture has warned people so much to look before they leap that many never leap. In many of the cases, every week it is summer in some aspect of your life. Don't sleep during the moment. Be assertive and try and get the benefits out of that moment. It is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. By far, the vast majority of people let opportunities with God, their marriage, their family, monetarily, vocationally, or friends slip by them.
Take stock this week of the opportunities that God has given you to make significant strides in some area of life. At any given time it is summer and time to act in that area of our life. Spend the time harvesting when it is appropriate. There will always be reasons why you can't or shouldn't. There will always be a little less certainty than we would like; but if there is an opening, probe and see if it will open more. If there is a chance to do something good and harvest a great personal and public good, then go after it.
The proverbs talks a lot about planning and seeking counsel, but it also wants us to move when the time is right. When it is harvest time, act with strong and consistent strokes. Remember that it is relationships that you are trying to build up. It is relationships that are the goal of life – a relationship with God and relationships in the other major areas of life. The two great commandments are love God and your neighbor as yourself. It is also important to say that one should not strengthen one relationship at the expense of all others.
Remember, harvesting is not just physical blessing – it is relational connection. The richest person is the one who has the deepest relationships across the relational spectrum.
In what area should you be harvesting this week?
What is holding you back from harvesting in that relationship at a new clip?
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz