“Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find” – Proverbs 12:27
The difference between success and failure oftentimes is not whether one person had a better head start in life, whether one person came from money, or whether one person had more talent. Oftentimes, the difference between success and failure comes down to one simple thing: taking advantage of opportunities. This is what this proverb from King Solomon is teaching us. Are we taking advantage of the opportunities given to us? In this proverb, Solomon is contrasting two individuals, the lazy person, and the diligent person. Both people went out hunting for food and caught game. I’ve personally never hunted, but I do know that merely catching game will not provide me with dinner on my table. I have to do something with that game in order to eat. The lazy person will look at his game but does nothing with it. “Man, that’s a lot of extra work to cook this meal. I already worked to catch this game. I don’t feel like doing anything more”, he says to himself. The diligent person not only turns the game into food, but also uses every aspect of that game for other uses, such as clothing or shelter. He is making the most of the game that he caught. In other words, the diligent person is making the most of a unique opportunity.
While we live in a different time where most of us are not hunting for food, clothing, or shelter, the analogy is still applicable. There are those of us who have a huge opportunity that could yield much success in our life but are simply unwilling to go through the hard work of capitalizing on that opportunity to have that success. There could be a myriad of reasons why we are unwilling to follow through. For example, we are genuinely scared that we may fail. It could be that we are complacent with where we are at, and don’t want to get out of our comfort zone. It could be that we were persuaded by others not to pursue the opportunity. Or it could simply be that we don’t want to put in the effort. Whatever the reason may be, there are those of us who have not capitalized on our opportunities.
In any endeavor, if you are trying to achieve success, you will go through ups and downs. There will be both good and frustrating days. Rarely will you hear of a successful entrepreneur who did not have to undergo some difficulty to get to where they are at. If you were to talk with the vast majority of those who were able to break through and become successful, one thing you would hear repeatedly is that they did not waste the opportunities given to them. They may have been afraid they might fail, but they did not let fear stop them. They may have been discouraged from pursuing an opportunity, but they did not let that stop them. They capitalized on the opportunity afforded to them and were able to make the most out of it.
What opportunities are in front of you right now? Whatever the opportunity is, let me encourage you today not to overlook it. Make the most out of it. There are many things you should never take advantage of, such as your family or friends. There is one thing that you ought to always take advantage of: the opportunity in front of you.