“He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9 NASB)

No slackness.

When I think of something being slacked, I think of an alternator or air conditioning belt on a vehicle. Those who have experienced a slack belt know that it causes several small problems that lead up to a big problem. A slack belt on a moving car will eventually cause the car to stop moving and shut down.

You could be on the way to your first day on the job or on the way to one of the biggest appointments in your life, only to wind up on the side of the road because under the hood was a slack belt that fell off somewhere down the street. So whom do you blame?

The author of QBQ (Question Behind the Question), John G. Miller, suggests that one look at self first, instead of being quick to point the finger elsewhere. Every slack belt gives a unique sound, and chances are many have jeopardized their entire team due to ignoring the high-pitched sound that was coming from under the hood.

This is not about your car, but this is about your business, your ministry or your team. Keeping a toxic, slack individual on board will do more harm than good. The fact that you are constantly hearing the sound of murmuring and complaining and excuses after excuses is a sign that he will soon fall off.

You cannot become accustomed to slackness, because a slack belt, if not tightened, will drain the source that is supplying power to the vehicle. This could result in you having an audit, which convinces you to change that which is visible because its on the top, such as the battery or even the motor; when it fact it was that small belt on the bottom that caused the problem.

One of the main problems a slack belt causes is that it attacks your vision and your ability to hear. You will notice that your radio will stop working and your headlights and dashboard lights will begin to dim. These are signs of a slack belt that is draining its power source.

There are Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams who have yet to understand this concept, as many have fired CEOs, CFOS and head coaches in a misdirected attempt to fix the problem, while keeping the slack belt on board.

It’s imperative to tune your hearing to the frequency of the source. Fix that slack belt — or in some cases get rid of it — and you will be able to enjoy a much smoother ride.

Selah

Domenick Epps is a Suffolk resident, real estate agent and youth pastor. Email him at DomenickEpps.Realtor@gmail.com.