Our Scripture reading today is Proverbs 13:4, "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."
What kind of a life do you desire to have? There is an emphasis in this verse on the part that we play in having a certain result in life. If we are lazy and wait for God or someone else to do everything for us the end result will be nothing. “The sluggard craves the fruit of diligence without the diligence that gains it.” (Bridges) Conversely, if we apply ourselves to life we are promised blessings. “We often hear many religious people expressing a desire to have more of the Divine life, and yet never get forward in it. How is this? The reason is, they desire, but do not stir themselves up to lay hold upon the Lord.” (Clarke)
This is not to say we are self made people. We must depend on God for the strength and wisdom to live each day, but it is also our responsibility to use that strength and wisdom to accomplish His will. What we put into our Christian life is what we will get out of it. God has equipped us with everything we need to be successful Christians. The key is diligently using what He has provided.