"He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty"
This is an obvious truth but needs to be stated. The people who work their job hard and well will get paid and have the necessities of life. But the person who neglects his work in order to pursue some grand scheme to get rich or do hobbies and personal quests will end up in poverty.
It is amazing how many people miss the fact that you must work hard at what you have in front of you, even if you do not like it. The land here is your work. Not every farmer likes to farm; but if that is what you at the present do, then do it well and with distinction. Too many people today are day-dreaming about some other life while they are living the one they’re in. They end up living neither.
Be 100% present at the work that you have to do. Now if you have the chance to get an education or different skill to increase your abilities or satisfaction, then do this; but that new job will also have to have your focus and attention if it is to work.
empty pursuits
The Hebrew word in this case translated empty pursuits really only carries the idea of empty. The word pursuitshas been added by the English editors to try and help explain.
There are all types of things that men and women can do with their time at work which are completely empty: video games on the computer; thinking about golf; Internet surfing; office gossip and rumors; etc. All these different types of activities – that will not move the work forward and will not really amount to much when the day is done – are an empty pursuit. It is these activities that keep a person from progressing at work. When you are at work, work. When you have a job to do, do that job.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz