1 Samuel 9:4
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
God will always use a worker much more than He can use a lazy person who only talks about what he can do. Many people talk about what they can do, but to produce what you say is what makes you valuable to your place of employment. It is often better not to say what you can do and just do it than to say you can do something and not do it.
God considered Saul a goodlier person than anyone in the nation of Israel. I believe part of the reason God liked Saul was because he was a worker. God called Saul to be the king of Israel while he was working. Every believer should try to emulate Saul’s work habits. Let me share these work habits with you.
First, Saul had the ability to work without anyone overseeing him. Saul’s father sent him to find the livestock that were lost, which meant he trusted him to work without oversight. To be able to work without someone constantly overseeing you is a great work habit. Your ability to work hard without oversight is critical to the production of any place.
I recall as a teenage young man when I worked in a paper factory the poor work habits of many who were around me. They worked, but they did not work to their fullest potential. They ran the machines, but also wasted much time talking with other employees, wasting the time they were supposed to be working. I remember when the plant manager walked through the plant, many of these men suddenly worked harder and faster to make the manager think they were working hard.
My friend, one of the greatest work habits you can establish in your life is to work hard without any oversight. When a supervisor or plant manager can depend on you without having to constantly look over your shoulder is when you become valuable to your place of employment. People who are promoted to position are people who work hard without oversight. You should be so dependable to get jobs done that your boss gives you a task to accomplish because he can trust you will get the job done without anyone having to tell you to do it.
Second, Saul had the ability to think on the job. When he could not find the livestock, he came up with a plan to find them. This is a critical character trait to acquire if you want to rise in position at your place of employment. Your boss does not need you if he has to think about how to resolve problems for you. As my mother used to say to me, “God gave you a brain to use, now use it.” She would say this to me when I went to her to find a solution to something I felt was too hard to figure out. My mother was trying to teach me to think and become creative so that I could rise above those around me. Those who rise above the average are those who are able to think about creative ways to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Always remember that if God gave you a task, He also gave you the ability to think of a way to overcome anything that hinders you from accomplishing that task. Thinking on the job is critical to your future, so stop running to your boss for a solution and figure out a way to overcome your problem.
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