The Risks Of Shortcuts

        Risking a shortcut seems to be part of the daily routine for many people now-a-days. Quality, required work and even above-and-beyond work seems to be the rarity and not the norm. 

        Today's impatient people do not see or follow the wisdom found in the Proverbs and Psalms concerning this subject. Solomon writes under the inspiration of God that the quality of the worker will marry the quality of the employer.  

"Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank." - Proverbs 22:29

        One of the influencers in taking shortcuts is haste or impatience. In a society that wants things yesterday and instant everything, waiting is not on a lot of menus, agendas or character traits. However, in addition to waiting, starting one's work and being persistent until its completion is at the heart of several instructional Scriptures.

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." - Proverbs 21:5

"Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!" - Proverbs 19:2

        Abraham and Sarah took a shortcut with the birthing of a promised son. They succumbed to their impatience and had Ishmael via the hand maiden Hagar. The consequence for jumping the gun or shortcutting was Ishmael and his descendants would always be at odds with everyone. 

        Another obstacle that shortcutters face in addition to impatience is allowing the success of others to force their hand into producing poor quality work. They observe cheaters, manipulators and the like get away with shortcuts in their business or personal life and feel compelled to do the same in order to compete or look good. When their shortcut backfires or does not succeed they feel slighted, but they should have waited on the Lord, surrendered to Him and not worry about others in the beginning. Psalms 37:7 speaks to this by saying,

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." 

        In some cases just getting individuals off the couch to do anything is the challenge. Whether the cause is a mentality of entitlement or his/her parents spoil them or the government is paying their expenses - laziness does not profit.

"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." - Proverbs 10:4

        Other contributors to shortcuters are those who place stock in trends and those that desire to get ahead in "the game". Those that follow trends tend to think - everybody else is doing it, why not me; it will work for me also. Those that want to get ahead in "the game" tend to have a competitive nature about themselves and their business, desiring to be in the industry's lead and sometimes sacrifice quality for being first.

        In all of these issues the key to success is include The Lord. Scripture says, 

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." - Proverbs 16:3

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

        

        Before, during and after your work - involve The Lord. What a bonus to have God on your side in your workday or at whatever you are working on simply because you surrendered to Him everything. Be a quality worker in every area of your life. We all take risks at many points during our lives, but the payout when it comes to shortcuts is not worth the trouble. I encourage us all not to live by The Risks of Shortcuts.