“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Prv. 14:23
Is this a universal principle or a specific promise?
Does “work’ mean physical labor at ones workplace or emotional and/or spiritual toil in ones life?
Does “profit” mean material money or something less tangible like relational abundance?
Does “poverty” indicate without money or does it denote the lack of something intangibly wonderful?
Let’s briefly look at these definitions:
“work”:`etseb: pain, hurt, toil, sorrow, labor, hardship, offense
“profit”: mowthar: means pre-eminence, abundance, profit, excellence
“poverty”: machcowr: means need, thing needed, poverty, lack
When we look at Prv. 14:23 in the context of the entirety of Scripture, we find that it means ALL these things, plus physical, emotional and spiritual manifestations, answered in both specific promises and universal principles.
Examples? With the 3 practical illustrations listed below, please keep in mind this simple truth: Until we’ve experienced life circumstances that test our faith to its core or find ourselves buried alive in the trenches of a trial, we will not know how to respond to what we may have embraced so easily during a comfortable Bible study! Living out a life of faith IS work.
1. If we are diligently working at our relationship with the Lord, we can expect closeness with Him and blessing from Him. But if our relationship with God is merely talk, we can expect physical, emotional, and/or spiritual lack and loss on this earth and in heaven. E.g. “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Ps. 34:10
2. If we are diligently working at our relationship with our spouse as God directs us, we can expect spiritual reward in heaven, plus joy in our heart and wisdom in our actions here and now (regardless of our spouse’s responses). However, if our investment in significant relationships is “mere talk and no do”, we can expect heartache and worse. E.g. “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Gal.6: 7-10
3. If we are diligently working at our job or career, in the long haul, we can expect excellence and abundance. E.g. “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” Eccl. 11:6 Conversely, if we choose to be lazy or idle we can expect poverty: physically, emotionally and spiritually. E.g. Prv. 10:4 “Lazy hands make a man poor.”
Is hard work easy? Definitely not. Worth it? OH YEAH it is.~ Most aren’t up for it … We are, will you join us?
Much love this week,
Shaun and Betsy
