Hard Work Pays Off

(Prov 21:25 GW)  The desire of a lazy person will kill him because his hands refuse to work.

This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.”  Another reoccurring theme in Proverbs is the importance of diligent work.  To say that Solomon was not a fan of lazy people is an understatement.  Back in the 10th chapter Solomon said, “He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.”  In chapter 12 he said, “Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave” (v.24) and “If you are lazy, you will never get what you are after, but if you work hard, you will get a fortune” (v.27).  In chapter 13: “People who refuse to work want things and get nothing.  But the longings of people who work hard are completely satisfied” (v.4).   In the New Testament Paul said, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2nd Thes 3:10).  Jesus said, “My Father is always working, and so am I” (John 5:17).  And believe me, there are many, many more scriptures like this in the Bible.  The message is clear: the Father is against laziness and lazy people.

The New Living Translation of this verse reads: “Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.”  The picture Solomon paints is that of a lazy person who daydreams all day long about things he or she wants.  Have you ever met someone like that?  This is someone who always wants “stuff,” but is never diligent enough to put in the work required to attain it; as if God is just going to give it to them without any effort on their part.  Here’s a news flash: even believers have to work for what we want to get.  Now, the favor of God is awesome and the Lord CAN favor the work of our hands, but we still have to DO something for Him to favor.  We have to give Him something to bless.

A great example of this is the life of Daniel.  Daniel was an Israelite slave under the hand of the Babylonians.  But Daniel worked hard and his hard work would not go unrewarded.  He made his way up the ranks quickly, to the point where the Bible says: “It pleased Darius to appoint 120 royal rulers over his entire kingdom.  He placed three leaders over them.  One of the leaders was Daniel.  The royal rulers were made accountable to the three leaders.  Then the king wouldn’t lose any of his wealth.”  Did you get that?  King Darius setup a system where he had 120 rulers over provinces and three rulers over them.  Daniel – a man who was supposed to be a slave in captivity – wound up being one of the three rulers over the 120.  But wait, it get’s better.  The Bible goes on to say, “Daniel did a better job than the other two leaders or any of the royal rulers.  He was an unusually good and able man.  So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.”  Wow.  Daniel did so good of a job that the King decided to place him over the three.  There was no one above Daniel but the King himself.  A man who was supposed to be a slave would up being the second in command, because he worked well and he worked hard.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that God expects you to work diligently.  In the next chapter Solomon goes on to say: “Observe people who are good at their work – skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a back seat to anyone” (22:29).  If you will be faithful to work, God will be faithful to bless the work of your hands!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for blessing me to be able to work.  I work diligently and faithfully.  I put my hands to DO all that You have blessed me to do and I know that You will bless the work of my hands.  I overcome laziness, slothfulness and procrastination.  No matter what others may think of me initially, my work will speak for itself.  Because I work hard and Your hand and favor is upon my life, I can’t help but move up.  The higher I go, that more You can be glorified in what I do!  I humbly pray this prayer: Glorify me, that I might glorify thee!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!