Big Buts of the Bible

Diligence

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, BUT the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4)

Desire by itself doesn’t accomplish much. We can want change, want growth, want healing, want a better relationship, want to accomplish something meaningful—even want to draw closer to God—but eventually desire has to put its shoes on and get moving. The proverb contrasts the person who continually craves with the one who diligently takes the next step. We may not control every outcome, and progress may come more slowly than we’d like, but faithful effort matters. Sometimes the distance between wishing things were different and actually seeing something change begins with simply doing the next thing we know to do.