How Good Intentions and No Ambition Leads to a Ruined Life
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Good Intentions and Ambition without Action
An old English proverb says the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Intentions are like ambitions without action. Unless there is follow-through, intentions become rash commitments or poorly conceived ideas.
A common example is the New Year's resolution that sounds good and useful but isn't carried out or sustained. Intentions can be rash—not thought through carefully or without consideration of possible consequences.
Years ago, I made a rash decision to buy a new car. We could afford it but it was an unwise decision. Instead of praying about it, I made the commitment based on selfishness. I listened to the foolish advice of a friend and neglected the cautions of my wife.
A few months later, I owned my foolish decision, humbled myself, and sold the car for a loss. It was a costly life lesson. Thankfully, it helped me avoid more ruinous decisions.
How often have you told someone you'd pray for them but forgotten to do it? It's embarrassing when you see them and they say, "Thanks for praying for me!" Then you realize you didn't follow through on your intention to pray.
Neither is writing out a to-do list the same as taking action to do those things.
These first several verses in the sixth chapter of Proverbs give us two admonitions. They remind us of the foolishness of making foolish commitments and how laziness leads to ruin.
Scripture
[When] you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, caught by your own promise.
Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Humble yourself, and pester your neighbor. Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter...
How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? When will you get up from your sleep?
“Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap.”
Then your poverty will come ⌊to you⌋ like a drifter, and your need will come ⌊to you⌋ like a bandit. (Proverbs 6:2-3, 5, 9-11 GW)
(Context—Proverbs 6:1-11 GW)
Simple Insights
These two admonitions may not seem related, but they’re like intentions—either rashly made promises or laziness, which is a lack of ambition and follow-through.
In the first situation, the person means well but makes a foolish commitment. The wise thing is to humble oneself at the cost of our pride and annul the promise we can’t keep. Better to admit wrong than be proud and foolish.
When we make rash decisions or unwise promises, we set ourselves up for ruin. If we can’t or don’t keep our word to others, it will cost us our integrity. Not just our reputation or a smear on our name, it has a ripple effect. It affects those to whom we made commitments and impacts those related to us.
The second illustration reminds us of the danger of good intentions with no action. When this becomes a habit, the consequences are dire. It’s like when you get too much sleep—you wake up groggy and unmotivated. Ambition becomes a daydream that never wakes.
Ambition without action results in apathy. Look at the triple emphasis about too much sleep—“Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap.” This is a picture of internal apathy—a lack of internal discipline.
A lack of ambition shows a lack of motivation—either a weak or lack of internal discipline. Internal disciplines develop through purposeful habits.
Daily routines can stifle creativity but also provide a structural framework. When the structure is too rigid, it stifles us. But a healthy structure to our life becomes a foundation for a healthy mindset and purposeful life.
The combination of rash commitments and ambitions without action leads to ruined character. Not only are your reputation and integrity ruined, but your daily life too.
Don’t make rash promises you can’t or won’t keep. Don’t make a habit of putting off what you need to do. Be wise and be diligent!
You’re more likely to be blessed and a blessing to others when you are both wise and diligent.
Reflection—
If you find yourself making rash decisions or committing to things you can't follow through on, then make a point to discipline yourself to think before you speak. Also, discipline yourself to do more than just think about doing something—do it!
Prayer Focus—
Pray for wisdom and include the Lord in your decision-making—even with small decisions. Commit your goals, ideas, and plans to the Lord on a daily basis and ask for wisdom and clarity on how to move forward with them.
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