Up to this point in our Proverbs’ texts, we have been preparing for this chapter and those to follow. Solomon has a lot to say about being wise and being foolish. We have met Wisdom and her counterpart, Folly. As we move forward in this book, known as wisdom literature, along with Ecclesiastes, we will see examples of wise and foolish actions.
Some of these examples will speak to you and others will not. If you shall read these verses a month from now or at some later date, it is entirely possible that other verses will speak to you. For purposes of my reflection, I will write on those verses that speak to me, and I encourage you to enter into the conversation and share in the comments what verses are speaking to you today.
Because David and I are so immersed in our coaching business venture since retiring to Mexico, verse 4 is speaking to me. “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.” We are working feverishly on our business. When we retired, we had no idea what it meant to be good marketers. We have had quite an education in marketing. We work very hard to get better and better at what we do.
Living in Mexico has also been an eye-opening experience in terms of work ethic. While there are a lot of Mexicans who sit around, appearing to be “lazy,” we know that they also work their butts off when they work. There is not a lot of machinery used to construct houses, dig ditches, build roads, etc. And there are so many entrepreneurs. If you have a table or two and a grill, you have a restaurant. If you have a bucket and some cloths, you are a car washer. If you have a blanket and some used items to sell, you have a store.
Working hard is a way of life here. Our work ethic is also very strong. Is it our intention to be “rich” as a result? There are so many negative connotations people have accumulated over time about people who are wealthy. Those misconceptions can really hold us back from enjoying the riches God intends for us.
I think of all the people I could serve if I had more wealth. It excites me. My desire to be rich is not for selfish gain. My definition of rich goes way beyond having a large balance in my bank account. God has blessed us richly with so many things aside from money. As a result of hard work, we have made friends, gained knowledge, made a difference in many people’s lives. That is the joy of being rich.
The lazy person misses out on so many blessings for not being present and attentive to the gifts around them. A lazy person can not truly experience all the joys of life. A lazy person is really a selfish person not thinking beyond themselves or their moment of idleness.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be a hard worker for the Gospel. I want to do everything I can to spread God’s word. I never want to be lazy or indifferent to all of the blessings God has given me.
Let’s pray … Lord, I give you thanks for all of the energy you give me each day. May I channel that in ways that give you honor and praise. Use my words, use my actions. Bless our business so that we can help more and more people. Continue to bring the people into our lives that we can bless. May I honor you in all I say and do this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
