Summary: If you want to call your own shots, if you want to cut your own way, if you want the keys to the car, if you want to have a “yes” from your supervisors, if you want more freedom, the answer is diligence. The hand of the diligent will rule, but the Slack hand will be put to forced labor.

If you have journeyed with me for any length of time in these different leadership circles, you have likely heard me share this next proverb. The Bible says that the hand of the diligent will rule but the slack hand will be put to forced labor. If you want to call your own shots, if you want to cut your own way, if you want the keys to the car, if you want to have a “yes” from your supervisors, if you want more freedom, the answer is diligence.

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the Slack hand will be put to forced labor. Years ago, I was working on staff at a church and a peer of mine came to my office. He said, “Man, why is it that after the senior leaders come out of a two-hour meeting, they walk out and hand me stuff to do that has nothing to do with my ministry area?”

I told him, “I think the senior leaders walk out of their meeting and start looking around to see who has margin and time on their hands. They take one look at me and how full my hands are and they don’t hand me stuff.”

I continued, “But if I can be honest with you. You look like you have margin. You look like you got time on your hands. As they look across the landscape of the church staff, they think: ‘He appears to have time on his hands.’ Therefore, you get handed things you do not want to do.” The Slack hand will be put to forced labor. Forced labor means doing something no one doesn't want to do. The hand of the diligent will rule, but the Slack hand will be put to forced labor. Get after it and you will write your own ticket.