“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19
Devotional Thought For The Day
For those who are industrious and ambitious, but have started out with little to nothing, it is unthinkable that someone would have land and not “work” it. The wise author is not talking about crop rotation or leaving a field lie fallow for a year or two. He is talking about people who are too lazy to work what is in front of them, or who for whatever reasons prefer to be doing other things. The general way in which he describes the alternative – “follows worthless pursuits” – enables us to envision a wide variety of temptations which lure people away from the work God has given to us. The promise embedded in God’s Word is that if we live our life prudently and apply ourselves to the work God has provided for us we will have plenty of the necessities of life. Often the problem begins with lack of contentment with this and a desire for more – more wealth, more luxuries, more pleasures, more prerogative.
The author does not mean that we cannot follow other work and business opportunities – sell the farm and go into auto mechanics, lawyering, banking, or some other business. The contrast to good, steady, and productive labor is “worthless pursuits.” This would include any of the variety of “get rich quick” schemes which are out there in the world. It would also include spending our money in gambling pursuits. The author would probably also be thinking about some of the hobbies we become interested in, and at times infatuated with – but that have no value or legitimate hope in providing for our basic needs and the needs of those who are dependent upon us. This might include golf, tennis, music, and various art forms. Television also comes to mind, and the internet, and all of the various “games” that people can access online whether by computer or phone app. Our love for vacations or just lounging around or even camping and hiking can become “worthless pursuits” if they keep us from productive labor. Regardless of the cause or the nature of the “worthless pursuits,” people can become infatuated and even addicted to them – and lose even the basic necessities of life.
So the proverb calls us back to contentment with honest labor and the proceeds [blessings] that are thereby derived. God promises us enough and His Word teaches us to be content with our “daily bread.” Where we have failed in this and lost contentment, we have brought a variety of woes and troubles into our lives. God calls us to repent of such idolatries, to receive His gracious forgiveness and mercy, to learn more about Him, about His great love for us, and to grow in our faith and trust in Him. As we live in a growing knowledge of God’s love for us we will become more content and more willing to follow His instruction, to work cheerfully and joyfully knowing that we are serving God by serving others, and gratefully and humbly receiving what He gives to us as fruits of our labor. In this way we grow neither lazy nor overly fatigued, and we are given a host of opportunities to do good to others. We are also promised plentiful provision for all of our basic needs. Frankly, it is this contentment, balance, and purpose in life that we really want; we’ve just gotten confused into thinking that a great deal of wealth is required for this. It is not; the poor productive worker can have more of this joy in life than many a rich person.
So let us be industrious in applying ourselves to the work that God has given us to do, and content with the abundance of bread with which He blesses us. Then we will have joy in knowing God’s love for us and joy in all of the little but most blessed things in life. In this we will be preserved from poverty and want, and from the erosive effects of unsatisfied greed, pride, and self-gratification. This is the great blessing God wills for all of us!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You have blessed us so richly with means and opportunities to work and with ample fruit of our labors to provide for the needs of our loved ones. Help us to grow in contentment with this and to continue finding joy in applying ourselves to our work. Preserve us from the temptations of wealth, especially those temptations which take us away from productive labor and into worthless pursuits and consequent poverty. Give us wisdom, knowledge of Your love and goodness, and faith and trust in You, that we may live quiet and peaceful lives of contentment, filled with Your peace and joy. Amen.