Explosions! That is what T.N.T is symbolized to mean. Often when this happens nothing within the vicinity of the explosion remains unaffected. In this blog post, however, that is not what I am referring to - although there are some connections.
By T.N.T. I am referring to an acronym I developed from Proverbs 14:23. In this verse Solomon writes:
"In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends to poverty."
TNT refers to the principle: Toiling Not Talking. In other words, the vast majority of us need to do a little less talking about what we are going to do and engage in the toil of doing it. That is the sense of the proverb. When we toil, strenuously labor toward a goal or end, there is profit. There is only prosperity, gain, fulfillment or "success" when we are laboring for that which we claim to want or desire.
Merely having a plan and talking about it is not only not enough but, according to the proverb, it tends towards poverty. Poverty is not financial poverty (though it can include this) but it is poverty of life as a whole: physical, mental, emotional, relational and or spiritual. Poverty is to be without that which is needed to be healthy or to effectively engage with contribution or influence. When we merely talk - when that is what characterizes us - what we will see poverty as evidence of this in our lives.
The reason why talking is prevalent in so many is because we confuse talking about the idea as the reality of it. Being able to articulate what we want becomes the essence of success and fulfillment, rather than actually doing that which we talk about. It has been said that there are many books and inventions in grave yards. Men and women who have had great ideas but were satisfied with having the idea as opposed to bringing it to life.
This proverb challenges us by showing us that there is the blessing of profit available to all of us in the endeavors of our lives but, like a good parent, it crushes it in realism: "You have to work for it." This proverb eliminates the false notion that one can be anything they they want to be. We often hear it spiritualized this way: "What God has for you is for you." That is patently false on many fronts. While I believe in the sovereignty of God I equally believe in the responsibility of man. Thus, the real truth - the way we out to rephrase those statements above - is that we can achieve what we want to achieve if we work hard (toil) for it.
So the challenge is this: stop talking about your dreams, goals and desires and start executing them; toiling for them. Stop looking at that next YouTube video about those who are walking in their dream and start working at that which you are called to and passionate about.
Stop talking and start toiling.
Seeking to be perfect can, sometimes, be the enemy of execution.