Take Note!

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” Prov.22:29 [KJV]

“Using a dull axe requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed” Ecc.10:10. You have been given the axe and the wood, however succeeding at the task of cutting the wood is tied to sharpening the blade of the axe. The success or failure of this task is the resultant effect of the decisions you make here after. Incompetence would mean knowing the blade needs to be sharpened but refusing to sharpen it or waiting for another person to come and sharpen it for you. Who needs to use the axe and who should ensure that the axe is sharpened? Incompetence is the bane of a lot of people today. Many times, we excuse incompetence when we should not even stand for it. For instance, a math teacher who does not know how to solve equations has no business whatsoever teaching math. That is the height of incompetence. Excusing incompetence has far reaching effects and dire consequences. Excusing incompetence in our lives and those around us has far reaching effects and consequences.

Competence is simply skill plus execution [Competence = Skill + Execution]. Even though you have innate talent you need the right presentation and this can only be acquired with diligence. “He chose His servant David, calling him from the sheep pens” Psa.78:70. David acquired the skill to lead a nation while he was tending to sheep in the fields. God saw he was competent and made him the king of a nation plus established his throne forever. That does not mean David still did not experience fierce opposition but the skill and diligence he had previously acquired kicked in and began to work in his favour. A competent person never remains poor and his services are not for the poor or lazy but for kings [Prov.22:29 translated]. Joseph did not resolve alone to let God speak through him. He developed himself to the stage that he became a solution. As such when the time came for God to promote him, it was obvious to all that only he was competent enough to do the job at hand. Acquiring competence is possible. Gideon was at first the weakest in his clan but when God showed him he could be more, he braced up, acquired the required skill, fought for Israel, and became a warrior. Becoming competent does not hinge on skill alone. You need the right execution. God will bring opportunities for greatness your way so while you are waiting you have to acquire the necessary skills diligently. God does not reward laziness with greatness. Take note!

Thought: What areas has the Holy Spirit been nudging you to develop and what is stopping you?

Prayer: Lord, I ask that You show me the skills I need to acquire for my next level, and empower me to acquire them diligently, in Jesus Name.