Posted by Jeff Short on April 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
– Proverbs 12:24
Proverbs consistently commends diligence, or hard work (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 12:27; 13:4; 19:15; 21:5). Diligence is a part of walking in wisdom. As Solomon put elsewhere, “time and chance” happens to all, so there is no absolute guarantee that diligence will lead to prosperity, but it is generally true (Ecclesiastes 9:11). To
bear rule means to have dominion and it isn’t limited to positions of government. It refers here to the ascendance of the
diligent to greater responsibility and authority. The word for
tribute means a tax or forced labor situation. This contrast shows how the
slothful descend in responsibility and authority. They are neither wise nor diligent like the ant, which needs no overseer (Proverbs 6:6-8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
– Proverbs 10:5
This proverb contrasts hard work and slothfulness, which is a common theme throughout the Proverbs. Rather than focusing on diligence and abundance contrasted with slothfulness and poverty, this proverb focuses on the effects a son has on his parents. A
wise son brings joy (Proverbs 15:20) and a foolish son brings grief (Proverbs 17:25). Looking a little deeper at the proverb, we see the core of it is not so much about industry versus laziness as it is wisdom. The
summer and the
harvest are seasons that require certain things to be done. The
wise son gathers because he discerns the season and is diligent at the appropriate time. The shameful son either doesn’t discern the time or carelessly sleeps, both bringing shame.
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
– Proverbs 10:4
A slack hand refers to laxness or slothfulness. It is contrasted with
diligent, which refers to definite, determined action. Wisdom teaches that slothfulness tends to poverty (Proverbs 6:9-11; 19:15; 20:4). Wisdom also teaches that diligent work tends to abundance (Proverbs 13:4; 21:5).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 5, 2016 · 1 Comment
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
– Proverbs 6:11
This section on the folly of sloth ends with the consequences of sloth and sleep. Solomon uses two figures to illustrate. There is variance as to the precise meaning of the two terms, but the lesson is obvious enough. The highwayman and the armed man come on suddenly and rob completely. Indulging sloth and ease causes one to awake one day to loss and waste. Solomon elsewhere warns that neglect of work leads to ruin (Ecclesiastes 10:18). From one perspective, the house doesn’t drop through at once but slowly over time. But the sluggard sleeps and loses time so that the roof cave-in seems sudden.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 4, 2016 · 1 Comment
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
– Proverbs 6:10
This is the refrain of the sluggard hinged to his bed. He always needs a little more sleep, a little more rest. This is a part of his putting off his work until a more convenient time. The sluggard is always awaiting the perfect conditions to work. Solomon reinforces in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 that we are rarely have ideal conditions to work in. We must accomplish something and we don’t have all the time we would like. We don’t have the perfect tools. We don’t have the best weather and so on. Wisdom knows that we must work while it is today and if we await ideal conditions, we will go hungry (Proverbs 20:4; Ecclesiastes 11:4).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 2, 2016 · 1 Comment
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
– Proverbs 6:8
Without an overseer, the ant works diligently in the appropriate season and has food in the later season. The ant does not delay or put off work until another time. Working urgently and diligently now yields good fruit later. Contrariwise, the sluggard accomplishes little to nothing on his own, doesn’t plan ahead, and doesn’t have what we call a hard work ethic. Likewise, the sluggard will have little to gather in the harvest.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 1, 2016 · 1 Comment
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
– Proverbs 6:7
Solomon’s point is not that the ants have no sort of organized or cooperative effort, but that the individual ant is not driven by a supervisor or taskmaster. In other words, the ant is self-motivated and does not need the overbearing presence of an overseer in order to work diligently. Often the young man does not accurately assess his slothfulness because perhaps he works hard when a parent, teacher, or coach is over them driving them forward. We are to learn wisdom from the ant and the ant has no such oversight.
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Proverbs 12:24
Posted by Jeff Short on April 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs consistently commends diligence, or hard work (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 12:27; 13:4; 19:15; 21:5). Diligence is a part of walking in wisdom. As Solomon put elsewhere, “time and chance” happens to all, so there is no absolute guarantee that diligence will lead to prosperity, but it is generally true (Ecclesiastes 9:11). To bear rule means to have dominion and it isn’t limited to positions of government. It refers here to the ascendance of the diligent to greater responsibility and authority. The word for tribute means a tax or forced labor situation. This contrast shows how the slothful descend in responsibility and authority. They are neither wise nor diligent like the ant, which needs no overseer (Proverbs 6:6-8).– Proverbs 12:24
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