“You can do better.”  I can still remember those piercing words.  My grade 12 science teacher pulled me aside on day after class, and spoke these words to me.  It was a call out, a challenge, an opportunity to step up, but I didn’t want to hear it.  I had just received the results on our first test of the year, I got 38%.  I didn’t care, I didn’t really need this class, I always told myself I wasn’t good at science.  But as I got home that night, I realized my teacher was right, I COULD DO BETTER.  

 

So the next day at school I asked the smartest girl in class if she would help me study for the next test.  She agreed but with some stipulations.  I had to prove to her I was doing my homework (which I never did do homework), and I had to give up a couple lunch hours a week and study with her.  I committed to these two stipulations and began to study for the next test which was in 3 weeks. 

 

3 weeks passed and I had proven to my classmate I was doing my homework; I had given up a few lunch hours a week and studied with her.  So, I wrote the test and waited to see if my hard work and discipline had paid off.  My classmate, the smartest girl in class wrote the test and got 95%.  I wrote the test and got 96%!!!  

 

I learned some very valuable lessons that day.  In Proverbs 13:18 it says,

 

“Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.”

 

I had a choice that day my teacher called me out.  I could disregard her discipline, disregard what she saw in me, or I could heed her correction and adjust my attitude.  By taking her discipline to heart I was able to realize things about myself I didn’t know were there.  

 

I learned that what you put into life is what you will get out of life.  When you apply yourself in all areas of life, you get a full life.  You are never disappointed with the results because no matter the outcome you know you gave it your best.  And isn’t that truly what God asks of us?

 

Ephesians 5:15-17

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 

 

MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY.  Every moment of every day is an opportunity to worship God.  The way you study reflects your heart towards God.  The way you do your chores reflects your heart towards God.  The way your train in sports or practise your music reflects your heart towards God.  Do not be unwise with your time, with your resources, put everything you have into everything you do and watch how the Lord will show up and lead you into His will for your life.  

One last lesson I learned that day, Proverbs 13:20 also says,

 

Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.

 

The people you surround yourself with matters.  Who are you following, who are you allowing to guide you in this life?  Are you friends helping you become a better person, or are they dragging you down?  When you surround yourself with the right people, they will help guide you on the right path.  My teacher that day was the wisdom I needed; my classmate was the wisdom I needed.  The first went out of her way and called me out, the second I had to approach and ask for help.  

 

Some questions to consider:

1. Are there some areas in your life you are not giving your all?

   1. What would it look like for you to give your all and worship God with your everything?

   2. Can you identify one area in your life where you could step up and give a little more?

   3. Are there some things you need to repent from?  From laziness, from not caring, from spending time unwisely, from wasting the gifts God has given you.

 

1. Who are you surrounding yourself with?

1. 1. Are there people in your life who are building wisdom into your life?  A pastor, teacher, parent, friend?  

   2. How do they help build wisdom into your life?  Have you given them permission to speak into some of your weaknesses?

   3. Are there people in your life that maybe you need to distant yourself from?  Are there some friends that are leading you down the fools path?