Do you feel like you’re wasting your time? That you are moving away from your dreams and goals? Perhaps the decision not to be negligent about your life is the step that will put you on the path of success.

This is how an ancient Jewish king named Hezekia reproved and encouraged God’s servants and people to stop being negligent about their life and to respond to their calling and the assignments stemming from it.  So restoration can begin and things can become as they should be.

My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense. (2 Chronicles 29:11)

What does it mean to be negligent about your life

Negligence is the waste of time, the squandering or non-utilization of what we have, mismanagement, carelessness, and slackness. To be negligent about life is to have an attitude of inattention towards God’s design for our lives, the resources, and talents that He has entrusted to us; towards His choice and particular vocation. God wants us to be His servants and to serve Him wholeheartedly, and voluntarily with all that we are and what we have. This is God’s recipe for a successful life.

To be negligent about life means doing something not with the due diligence and not taking proper care of what is entrusted to us. We need to understand that our lives, our bodies, our souls, along with all the talents and inclinations, are a precious gift from God. These are resources that God expects us to manage well under His guidance and with full awareness of the responsibility we bear. Another aspect of negligence is unpreparedness. We often want to use the short cut and reach the goal without paying the price, that is, without making any effort. This naturally does not produce the desired result.

To be negligent about life means also to forget. Forgetting is a serious problem. The Bible is full of God’s call not to forget but to remember. In order to lead a successful and fulfilling life, we need not forget who God is, who we are, what God’s will for our lives is, because it gives us a stable motivation to live by following His design. It is necessary to remember His works, His goodness, His faithfulness, and care. Let us not forget that every good and perfect gift is from above. (James 1:17).

Be sure to pin me for later!

What does it mean NOT to be negligent about your life

Not being negligent with our life means being careful and caring. It also means to be devoted to something, to be concentrated and focused. Dedication requires commitment; it is a long-term project requiring endurance and strength. Focusing on something also requires a constant decision and choice, as well as saying “no” to other things that struggle for our attention and time. The good news is that when we decide not to be negligent and devote ourselves to God’s plan for our lives, God supplies the necessary power and grace to stay focused and follow the outlined path.

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that. Dont compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can do with your life.  (Gal. 6:4-5, MSG)

Preparation and success

Not being negligent about our life means getting prepared and ready. Preparation is half the work it defines the successful performance. Very often, the preparation for something takes much more time and effort than the completion of the job itself. That is why we need to resist the temptation to take a shortcut and to skip or shorten the preparation process.

Every successful musician, artist, writer or athlete will tell us that the talent is not enough. It takes many years of preparation, a lot of work and stamina. God is the best coach, mentor, and teacher in the world. When we decide that we want to pay the price and get through the preparation, He takes care to guide us through every step of the way and to supply all the resources and help we need.

Last but not least, the opposite of being negligent about life is to be successful. God desires even more than we do for us to have a successful life and to fulfill our call to be His ministers and co-workers, each one in his place, each with his unique abilities and calling. Nothing can compare to the joy and satisfaction of serving God with all that He has given us; in the place, He has chosen for us.

8 major steps from negligence to a successful life

• Understanding and acknowledging that life and everything we are and have is a gift from God that we should use for good and His glory. The decision to appreciate the gift and the Giver.
• Surrendering our life and path to God under His direction and control.
• Accepting and following through the preparation and sanctification process.
• Acknowledging that we can not do it alone. Resolution to seek and rely on His power and grace.
• Resolving to find our place and use everything God has given us. Commitment to be good stewards.
• Choosing not to be dependent on the results because we have no control over them. But we have to do our best with what we have been given and leave the results to God.
• Understanding what it would cost us and willingness to pay the price. Willingness to sacrifice one thing to win another.
• Believing that with God’s help we will succeed and accomplish the longings and dreams that God has put into our hearts.

Your turn

Do you have the feeling you are wasting your time? Which areas of your life do you want to be more successful? Do you know what work and assignment you have been given? Come and share in the comments!

Hadassah