An engineer was called to fix a ship’s failed engine. With a single strike of a hammer, the engine was fixed. He charged the owner $10,000 for the work. Totally shocked, the owner asked for a breakdown of the bill. The breakdown: $5 for hitting the spot and $9,995 for knowing where to hit. This simple story highlights the importance of working smart.
Friend, in all labour, there is profit (Proverbs 14:23). But the kind of profit is dependent on the type of labour. You should not only work hard. You should work smart. While some people work hard, others hardly work. But those who are most productive and prosperous are those who work smart. Working smart has to do with the intelligence and expertise you bring into the work (Ecclesiastes 10:10).
Truthfully, the least form of work in terms of profit is physical work. Productivity has to be spirit, soul, and body. Spiritual and mental work pay the highest dividends compared to physical work (1 Timothy 4:8,15). Actually, physical work must be a product of spiritual and mental work. If you are poor in the latter, you would be poor with the former. It would eventually make you poor financially (Proverbs 12:27).
In most organisations, the person with the highest pay does little or no physical work, while those with the least pay are those sweating it out under the hot sun (Psalms 127:2). They are all important to the organization’s growth. But you need to choose where you want to belong. You need to move from working hard to working smart. You need to engage your spirit and mind for the highest level of productivity (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
It is wrong to think that the person who is praying or doing spiritual work is wasting his time (Habakkuk 2:1-3). The only problem is when the pray-er refuses to convert the spiritual energy generated in prayer to practical tangibility. All productive labour must start with prayers. It is when you have secured direction in prayers that you would know what to do and how to do it (Ecclesiastes 10:15).
Poor people engage more of their muscle-power while rich people engage their mind-power (Proverbs 22:2, 29:13). Mental work is better than menial jobs. If you want to change your reality and renumeration, move from menial to mental. Read, acquire knowledge, grow your mental capacity, improve your leadership ability, etc (Ecclesiastes 10:10, 15). Don’t just work hard. Work smart.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria