Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
What's in Your Hand?
Today’s Verse:
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. ~Proverbs 10:4
Solomon, as a king, judged the affairs of the people of the kingdom. He observed patterns and traits about people who were successful and people who were failures. He saw the good and bad of people. Proverbs is a compilation of the observations that he made. One of the areas of which he speaks of much is the contrast between the rich and the poor. The hand, in Scripture, is a symbol of work. Solomon refers to a slack hand and a diligent hand. What kind of hand do you have?
We see the warning.
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand.” The word slack can mean slothful, indolent, deceitful, false, and treacherous. We find the Hebrew word for slack translated as “guile,” “deceitful tongue,” “deceitful bow,” “slothful,” and “idle.” A man who is slothful, deceitful, dishonest, and idle will become poor. He is poor in judgment. He is poor in character. He is poor in his relationships. He is poor financially. This is a man who cuts corners in what he does. He uses other people for his advantage. He will even resort to fraudulent practices with others. He becometh poor. The end result of a slack hand is poverty and loss.
We see the work.
“The hand of the diligent maketh rich.” The Hebrew word for diligent means “sharp” and “industrious.” It is a word that is translated “gold.” It is a word that is also translated “a threshing instrument.” A diligent hand is a hardworking individual. He is someone who is organized and stays on top of things. He strives for accuracy. He is sharp mentally and in performance. He gives attention to details. He doesn’t do a sloppy job. He is par excellence in performance. He is on the cutting edge of things. He works through difficulties and is not a quitter. He is as good as gold! He is a valuable person to others. The diligent hand makes one rich: rich in wisdom, opportunities, trust, favor, finances, and friendships.
We see the wisdom.
“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” A diligent man knows that timing is everything. Summertime is when you work your harvest. You have to prepare for winter and have enough food and resources laid aside during the winter months when crops don’t grow. To be idle in harvest means your crops will be consumed by the animals or waste away in the weather. To not gather during harvest leaves you lacking during the hard months and, eventually, shamefully begging from others for help. A diligent hand is wise. He plans his days, weeks, and months. He is wise about his opportunities and his future.
We see the wealth.
The diligent are the ones on the top of the food chain. They are the ones whose substance is precious. The diligent are the ones who are in leadership. They make good decisions. They are visionary. They think in terms of gain and not loss. They create jobs for others. They create a market for new products and services. They are the church planters and servants of God who build churches that are winning souls, making disciples, training leaders, and starting new ministries. They are constantly reinvesting into the work. They keep the facilities sharp, clean, and appealing. They make the lives of their family, customers, constituents, and church members rich in happiness, joy, and satisfaction. It is rewarding to be known as the hand of the diligent. It’s all about the hand. What’s in your hand?
Have a diligent God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ephesians 4-6
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