Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

These days, it seems like we’re all feeling the pressure to chase after the next big, shiny thing. Whether it’s status, success, or the kind of life that looks impressive on social media, the world constantly pushes us to want more. But if we’re honest, that chase often leaves us feeling empty and discontent. And when discontentment drives our decisions, we end up heading down paths that don’t bring peace or purpose.

My father-in-law used to say, “A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”

In today’s passage, Solomon shares wisdom about laziness and a lack of intention in Proverbs 24:30-34. I don’t know if this insight came from personal experience or from observing others, but here’s what he writes:

“I went by the field of a slacker,
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,
and the stone wall was ruined.
I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:
a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need like a bandit.”

Solomon paints a vivid picture of an abandoned vineyard—once full of potential, now overgrown and broken down due to neglect.

When we view life through the lens of comparison, it’s easy to become consumed by how everyone else’s life looks. If we’re not careful, we become too distracted to notice the goodness in our own lives quietly fading away. The truth is, the moment we stop tending to what God has entrusted to us, we risk losing it.

We miss out on making new memories and savoring special moments in the home we’ve forgotten to be thankful for.

We fail to slow down and be truly present with our children because we’re hyper-focused on chasing the next big paycheck.

We allow our marriages to wither when we over-criticize and forget to appreciate the beauty in our spouses.

Your vineyard—your life, your home, your relationships—can be full of abundance. But like anything living, it requires care and attention.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be wise. I want to learn from what Solomon saw in the slacker’s field before my own vineyard becomes overgrown and broken down.

My hope for you is this:

That you would slow down long enough to see the beauty in your own vineyard.

That you would cherish the people, places, and blessings God has already placed in your life.

That you would pour into them—not out of obligation, but from a heart of gratitude and devotion.

Because when we stop chasing what’s “out there” and begin nurturing what’s right here, something shifts—and we begin to live in the richness of a life tended with love and intention.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.