Reap/sew

One of the fundamental truths to this world is that we reap what we sew. This truth has biblical foundations with the parable of the talents. A master going on a journey gave one his servants five talents, to another, two talents, and to another one talent, all according to his ability. The one who had five put it in the bank and gained five more, the one with the two did the same, but the one with one buried it in the sand. Needless to say, the master wasn't too happy with the one who buried in the sand. Jesus then went on to say:

"...for everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him," (Matthew 25:29-30).

In life, the same thing happens. The harder we work, the better we get at what we are working at/get more of it. I have NEVER encountered a situation when hard work didn't pay off in one form or another, even if it wasn't the way I had expected. Either way, the hard work put in was worth it.

Rick Warren said:

"There is nothing quite as potent as a focused life, one lived on purpose. The men and women who have made the greatest difference in history were the most focused."