October 6, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Diligent people are thoughtful people. They must think in order to get everything they want to get done finished. The adage is still true: “If you absolutely need something done, find the busiest person and give that responsibility to them.”  This seems backwards, it would seem that the least busy person would have the time and energy to take on more responsibility, but the opposite is true. Busy people get things done because they stay busy. Many have said, “The world is run by tired people.”  They are tired because they are so busy.

Busy people are diligent. Lackluster people are seldom busy. Years ago, I was visiting with a very successful manager of people. He was responsible for a large group of people in a very demanding industry. This man made a comment to me that I have found to be true in every single organization I know. He said, “Busy people cause much less trouble than people with nothing or little to do.”   Therefore, his departments were purposely a little understaffed. When a person is busy, or diligent, their thoughts are about the job: “How can I get this done?” “How can I improve my productivity?” “What do I need to do next?” “What supplies do I need?” Less busy people, people who have little to do began to think about the shortcomings of management, the faults of others, the negatives of the workplace, and the like.

Busy people, and those that have little to do, have many thoughts. One group tends to have thoughts that lead to plenty, while the other group has thoughts that lead to discontent, discord, and discrepancy. I know which group I want to be in, how about you?

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William Howe