As stated in Proverbs 3.4, it’s critical for me to identify the essentials. Conversely, given resource limits, messing with non-essentials can be fatal. Therefore, I must build out my capacity for identifying the essentials.
Your life will enjoy grace from identifying the essentials. Proverbs 3.4 paraphrase
Where to Focus?
What matters most in any given endeavor?
What are those critical few things that must be executed, repeatedly and successfully, in order to produce successful outcomes?
Moreover, how can I get better at identifying the essentials, given the changing nature of the environment around me?
Finally, what are the benefits of identifying and executing the essentials?
The Essential Few
In any given discipline or industry there is some sub-set of activities that must be the constant focus.
For example, I once had a conversation with an executive who was in charge of a large manufacturing facility. He focused on three essentials: build your plan, watch your scrap, and ship your build. Thus, the executive had simplified a large, complex operation down to three key metrics. Watch those and succeed!
Obviously, one take on identifying the essential is from Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism. In short, he says each of us must identify our highest point of contribution then relentlessly focus on those vital few. In fact, we deliberately stop trying to do it all, thus eliminate the “trivial many.”
There are dozens and dozens of other suggestions on the topic of “how to improve your life focus.” For example, Michael Hyat suggests we stop to consider what is and is not working, then cut out, automate, or delegate.
Similarly, Susan David encourages us clarify our core values and most important goals. What’s more, there are plenty of How-To suggestions about maintaining focus, building flow, and being in the zone.
The Essentials in Proverbs
Proverbs 3.1-4 is a brief conversation on identifying the essentials.
In short, we are encouraged to live a precept-driven life (Proverbs 3.1). Those fundamentals make me more insightful. As expected, those precepts are critical for leaders.
The outcome of being precept-driven is greater capacity to produce, coupled with increased enjoyment of life (Proverbs 3.2).
Moreover, those precepts change me at my core (Proverbs 3.3). Why? Because I have become skilled at identifying the essentials (Proverbs 3.4).
Life and Leadership Essentials
What are those essentials? The list in Proverbs Chapter 3 is very different from what you’ll read by searching the Web.
Proverbs Chapter 3 lists five life essentials:
Trust the Lord (3.5),
Spiritual sensitivity (3.6),
Reverence instead of over-confidence (3.7-8),
Generosity to God (3.9-10), and
Being teachable (3.11-12).
Therefore, one outcome of a precept-driven, balanced life, is identifying the essentials.
The Word Meaning
How does the phrase “good understanding” or “high regard” or “good repute” or “good insight” or “good sense” indicate a focus on the essentials? Let’s look at how the term is used elsewhere.
One of the easiest ways to understand word meaning in scripture, I think, is to read how different writers used the same word.
The Hebrew word in question here is sekel.
In I Samuel 25.3 Abigail is described as attractive and of “good understanding.” Thus, she recognized what was happening around her. In the story, she responds immediately to a life-threatening situation while her husband was clueless. Consequently, he was unresponsive.
In Psalm 111.10, we read that reverence brings an understanding of the essential. As a result, I show that understanding through obedience.
In 2 Chronicles 30.22, speaking to the heart included sharing the essentials of a spiritual relationship. Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 2.12, being wise and insightful includes a very clear life focus. Also, in Nehemiah 8.8 clear teaching brings discernment to grasp the essentials.
In Proverbs 13.15 we read that getting the essentials by being teachable contrasts with hard-headedness. In Proverbs 12.8, the essentials contrast with a perverse character. Likewise, in Proverbs 16.22 and 23.9 we see how getting the essentials contrasts with foolishness.
In these few examples, we read the value of situational awareness, reverence, insight, discernment, and a teachable spirit. All these beneficial outcomes stem from identifying the essentials.
Therefore, I must build out my capacity for identifying the essentials.
Leadership Insight
One view of Proverbs is that of a leader passing down what he has learned to the next generation of leaders.
Most fundamentally, you have someone in a position of authority telling others to “get the basics.” We’re told that, above all else, we must get better at identifying the essentials.
What’s the return on investment for getting these essentials right? I will build capacity for a long and productive career. That career enjoys abundance and accomplishment. Additionally, that career is right with both God and others.
The fundamental transformation here isn’t about what I do as a leader. It’s not about success habits. It’s not the five things I do every morning before 8:00 AM! Or, the six things I do before 7:00 AM! Or …
Instead, the fundamental transformation here is all about changing who I am as a leader, at my core. I build out a merciful and ethical character.
As a result of that character change, I enjoy grace from God and from others!
What’s the catch? To become this other person, I must turn loose of arrogance, over-confidence, self-consumption, greed, and hard-headedness.
What’s most essential for a leader? Allowing the universal precepts in Proverbs to transform his or her character in order to become the leader the organization needs right now!
Apply This Today!
Getting life essentials is critical. By doing so, I position myself for God to bless and multiply my efforts – both personally and professionally.
A recurring theme in Proverbs 3.1-12 is obedience and submission, expressed as a teachable spiritual that accepts correction. Thus, before I can lead I must learn the difference between hard-headedness and persistence.
Therefore, I must build out my capacity for identifying the essentials.
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