A Contrast Between Diligence And Laziness
February 20, 2019
Commentary
A simple contrast is made between the ability and inability to keep quiet (v. 23). A fool is prone to blurt forth all that he knows (which may not be much) while a wise man is careful to practice silence in the presence of others. Next we see a contrast between diligence and laziness (v. 24). A person who is too lazy to labor at the appropriate time will often be forced at a later time to labor as a slave to earn the bare necessities of life. In contrast the diligent, who take opportunities to work industriously will one day rule over the sluggards.
We find the sluggard pictured as a lazy hunter (v. 27). Even if he does muster up enough energy to get out and kill some game he will run out of gas before he builds a fire and roasts it. In other words, he is just too lazy to cook his own meet. Diligence, however, leads a hunter to value what he works to get. He knows the price of the labor he has invested and appreciates the preciousness of that which he now possesses. Laziness is not a joke as some may picture it to be. It is sin for us to fail to invest our God-given abilities in a productive way for his glory. It is like having a million dollars in our checking account while we let our family starve to death because we refuse to write a check and buy some food.
Application
What Biblical principles have I taught my family concerning work? (II Thess. 3:10) says, “that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Proverbs 12:20– 28 (NET)
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
21 No harm will be directed at the righteous, but the wicked are filled with calamity.
22 The Lord abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.
23 The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.
24 The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.
26 The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy person does not roast his prey, but personal possessions are precious to the diligent.
28 In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death.
Illustration: Pastor Shouted The Secret to Large Church is Work
Many years ago there was a pastor who was visiting a very large church in Marietta, Georgia. This pastor was there to try to find out why this church had grown to be so large. The pastor of this large church was very gracious and was giving this visiting pastor a tour of his facilities. He had taken him to the auditorium, many of the classrooms, etc. and was walking down one of the hallways when the visiting pastor stopped and said, “Could I ask you a question. I appreciate you showing me all of your wonderful facilities but what I really came here to find out was the secret of your success in building a large church like this with several thousand members.” The large church pastor looked up and down the hallway and then said, “If you really want to know, step into this room with me.” He opened a door, which was a dark closet, and shut the door behind him. Then he cupped his hand and shouted into the young pastor’s ear, WORK, WORK!! (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).