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The Power of Observation
Some years ago, I saw a grey-haired man, probably in his sixties, doing a job that would normally be done by teenagers or much younger people. My first reaction was sadness, but then I wondered how he ended up like that. Before I continue, please understand that this is not to demean any job. You should be proud of any job you have and do it with all diligence. Remember, there is someone out there who wishes they had your job.
Patterns in Life and Choices
Generally speaking, we can't predict the future. There are many things in life we may not be able to foresee—including our own actions or reactions in certain situations—and even less so those of others. But through observing people's actions and choices, we can begin to see the contours and outlines of their future, and to a reasonable degree, predict whether they are headed for success or failure.
Seeing the End from the Beginning
When I watch crime shows, I see a lot of relationships or marriages that end badly—sometimes in murder. I usually like to pay attention to where and how it started, because that often tells you where it's likely to end. People marry someone they barely know, or they ignore early warning signs, and the outcome becomes almost inevitable.
Sometimes, their loved ones express regret that they didn’t speak up when they noticed the red flags. They say they were afraid of straining the relationship. That bothers me a great deal. I’m a straightforward person, and if I see something concerning, I’m not the type to keep quiet. I’d rather risk your displeasure than not tell you the truth. Proverbs 27:5–6 says:
“Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
It’s better to be truthful with each other—even if it causes some emotional pain—than to stay silent.
Life Is Not a Mystery
We often think life is a mystery. But while many things in life are mysterious, life itself is not. In business and organizations, we use data to analyze trends and predict outcomes. In the same way, God has given us information in the Bible to help us reasonably discern whether we—or someone else—are headed for success or failure: in life, business, love, marriage, career, or finances.
The Bible gives us the toolkit to make sense of life and anticipate its outcomes. You don’t need a fortune-teller or some charlatan to tell you what’s coming. Take a look at what Proverbs 24:30–34 says about a lazy man and the outcome of his life:
“I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.”
You see this field overgrown with thorns and weeds, its stone wall broken down, and you either wonder how it came to be that way—or just walk past and shake your head. A foolish person might not give it much thought, but a wise person—like the writer—pauses to reflect. He continues:
“When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:”
Failure Is Not an Overnight Business
I see people making the same mistakes others have made before them—the mistakes of their parents, friends, and peers. Why? Because they fail to learn from life. But not this writer. He helps us interpret what we’ve just seen:
“A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.”
The outcome we saw at the beginning didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of repeated bad choices—a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little resting—small acts of delay, neglect, and complacency. Failure doesn’t come suddenly, and neither does success. Life isn’t an accident. Our lives are the sum total of the little choices we make every day. It’s an accumulation of our small actions or inactions.
Nobody succeeds overnight, and nobody fails overnight. If you want to succeed in life, start making the right choices now.
A Simple Reflection
So ask yourself: what choices am I making today?