Daily Devotion to Proverbs: Day 26

Daily Nugget:

Today’s Thought: 
“If you’re waiting for something to turn up, try turning up your sleeves and do the first thing you see that needs to be done!” — Author Unknown

Work is healthy and should be desired. It gives one a purpose. Laziness has often been a thief to rob one of usefulness and pride (the right kind) and has destroyed and wasted many lives.

God has you here for a purpose. Ask the Lord to show you what He has for you to do, and do it.

Proverbs 26:13-16 mentions the type of person who wastes his time on this Earth and misses being all he could be. The person discussed is “slothful.” This type of person refuses to work or does all he can to avoid it. He is a “sluggard,” and his laziness hurts him more than he realizes.

Work is good and should not be avoided. It helps a person feel better about himself as labor allows him to help himself and society.

The Bible talks much about work. Read some of what the Word of God teaches about laboring:

• God works. If the creator works, those that He created should follow His example. Creation was some of God’s work.
  “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;….” Genesis 2:2 Also: Exodus 20:9, Psalm 8:3.
• God works at protecting His people. See Exodus 1:31.
• Jesus worked. If we are Christians, or “Christ-like,” we should emulate Jesus’ work ethic.
  “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 5:17 Also: John 4:34.
• God wants us to work.
  “… this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” II Thessalonians 3:10
  “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” I Thessalonians 4:11
  “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:” Exodus 20:9  Also: Deuteronomy. 5:13, Psalm 104:23.
• One will be happier if he works for what he gets.
  “For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Psalm 128:2
  “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathered by labor shall increase.“ Prov. 13:11 Those who try to get money the easy way without laboring for it often find that they are always broke and cannot keep what they have.
  “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes. 2:24
  Also: Proverbs 14:23, Ecclesiastes 3:13.
• God can bless a hard worker as He did Job.
  “Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:10 Also: Psalm 62:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13.
• There is the work of the ungodly that God does not accept and the godly should avoid.
  “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23  Also: Psalm 101:3, Psalm 135:15, Proverbs 11:18, II Timothy 4:18.
• A person’s character is often judged by his work ethic.
  “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:11 Also: II Thessalonians 3:8.
• There is a reward for laboring.
  “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” I Corinthians 3:8
• Serving God involves work.
  “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” II Timothy 4:5  Also: Romans 16:12.
• Worshiping God can involve working. Israel had to work to make the Tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. See Exodus 40:33.
• Work was required to repair the damaged temple so Israel could resume worship. See: Nehemiah 2:16.
  “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29  Also: John 6:28, Ephesians 4:12.
• God knows about our work.
  “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil….” Revelations 2:2 Also: Proverbs 15:19.
• One will not have his needs met if he does not work for them. He will have a hard life and will find himself wanting.
  “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.“ Proverbs 20:4
  “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Proverbs10:4 Also: Proverbs 12:24, Proverbs 15:19.
• Laziness (slothfulness) hurts a person!
  “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” Proverbs 21:25
  “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Proverbs 13:4