Thomas Jefferson said it first, although legendary film producer Samuel Goldwyn is attributed with making the line more slick and famous: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
We’ve all seen guys who overachieve—in sports, in business, in all kinds of professions. We’ve seen young football players from Division II directional schools who get signed as undrafted free agents , make the final cut, fill in for an injured starter, then turn low expectations into a Pro Bowl season. Hard work? Luck? You decide.
The person who wrote Psalm 1 in the Bible talked about the man who doesn’t kid around when it comes to keeping his nose in the Scriptures. “Day and night” he makes learning God’s Word a passionate pursuit. As a result, “he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3). Good genes? Lucky breaks?
There’s something about a man who reads and studies his Bible, not to win theological arguments, but just because he wants his life to be shaped, governed, and directed by God’s ultimate truth. Psalm 119:98 says it makes him smarter than his enemies. Proverbs 1:4 says it transforms a young, inexperienced man into someone who’s shrewd and clever, who knows the ropes.
Aren’t you “lucky” to have that kind of resource sitting around? You are if you’re ready to work at it.
Pray this prayer: Lord, I don’t always know the best way to get much out of reading the Bible. But I ask you, by your Holy Spirit, to begin letting it speak clearly to me. I do want to learn. I do want to grow. By Football Coach Joe Gibbs; Scripture references changed to KJV.
