Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. – Proverbs 22:29, KJV

On at least two occasions in his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin chronicled the down and out nature of friends given to drink. One of the friends drained Franklin of his meager personal assets early in life. The other put a drag on Franklin’s burgeoning printing business in Philadelphia. Both men eventually parted ways with Franklin, much to Franklin’s relief.

In contrast to his friends, Franklin gave himself not to drunkenness but to the industrious pursuit of his trade. Sporting a work ethic rooted in his father’s preaching of Proverbs 22:29, young Benjamin gained a reputation for hard work. One Dr. Baird remarked, “For the industry of that Franklin is superior to anything I ever saw of the kind; I see him still at work when I go home from club, and he is at work again before his neighbors are out of bed.” (Excerpt From: Franklin, Benjamin. “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” iBooks.) His strong work ethic led Franklin to success in life, both in business and in the public arena.

For the Christian, success comes in the identification and progressive realization of God’s worthy goals for our lives. Once He has identified those goals for us, we are tasked with pursuing those goals with great industry. We are often impeded, however, by obstacles much like those that entangled Franklin’s friends. The obstacles may be, on the surface, much lest sinister than being drunk with wine. But there are other things we can be drunk with – the love of praise, the love of money, and the love of leisure, to name a few. Such things intoxicate our minds, making us lose sight of the worthy goals God has placed before us and perverting the work ethic necessary to achieve them.

If industry for God is something lacking in your life, search out the distractions that keep you from your work. Once identified, kick them out of your life, and guard yourself diligently lest they return with a vengeance.