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PROGRAM D-7004
Do you believe in gimmicks? I’m a big believer in using gimmicks and reminders and prods to help me keep in place the disciplines that I need. Disciplines that will foster good work habits, make me a dependable and productive person, and help me to be successful in what I’m doing.
Proverbs 5:23 says a person can die for lack of discipline. And I believe that includes emotional, mental and physical death. If discipline is not a part of your work ethic, you may not have much of a work ethic.
What do I mean by gimmicks? They are reminders and motivators that I use to make sure I don’t fall into bad work habits. For example, in order to be on time, you could set your clocks ten or fifteen minutes early. Sure, you know they’re early, but still it will remind you that being on time is important.
Can you think of some area in your work habits where you tend to be undisciplined? Let me mention a few possibilities: Tardy too often, waste the last half hour of the work day, spend too much time in personal telephone calls, stretch your lunch hour beyond its time limits, too much chatty conversation with coworkers, leaving things to the last minute too often, or poor communication skills. It may only be one small area where you have refused to be disciplined, but it will come back and bite you and cause you problems.
Proverbs tells us that a person who ignores discipline despises himself and eventually comes to poverty and shame.
If you find it hard to be disciplined in some area, ask God to give you a creative gimmick—a way to impose the discipline on yourself that will help you to develop good work habits. Remember, a disciplined life brings glory to the Lord.