The Laodicean church mood of today, promulgates the notion that “God loves me no matter what I do.”  While that is a true statement, it is incomplete.  Just like our earthly fathers when faced with rebellion, He loves us as children, but hates what we do. 

Bible believers are commanded in many places in the Word to do their best.  Today’s Proverb follows this theme:

Proverbs 10:4

⁴ He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Living in the greater Detroit Metro area, we are treated to the frequent teacher’s strikes that occur every few years in that crumbling, once great city.

I am forced to wonder why so many of them are overweight, so much to the point that they are wider than the poster boards they brandish! 

It is sinful human nature to gravitate towards pleasure and away from pain and discomfort. 

This Proverb applies to all of us – from home maker, to bottom rung corporate employee, to the head of a massive organization.  We do not work for money – we work to honor the God we serve! 

Homemakers – do you have laundry and dishes piled up?  Are you allowing food to go to waste?  Are you shopping with care and thrift?  If not – then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Hourly worker – are you frittering away time when you could be getting things done?  Do you spend time thinking about how the managers aren’t working as hard as you are?  Do you help yourself to things at your place of work because everyone else does it?  Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

CEO – do you spend hours at the golf course now that you’ve “made it?”  Do you take advantage of tax exemptions to make your life more cushy with “business expenses” that aren’t really business expenses?  Do you take advantage of underlings?  Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Remember brothers and sisters, we are concerned with treasures in heaven – not here on earth!  If you are feeling unappreciated, underpaid, and overwhelmed in your sphere of labor, whether in the home or in a factory – so what!  So what if you are unappreciated by your boss.  If you work with a diligent hand – you are appreciated by Someone much more powerful than your boss, ( or kids or spouse for that matter.) 

Please see the studies on the Rewards of Crowns on our apologetics page to see where and how, you, beloveds, will be truly rewarded for your diligence.

Even if you are working in a situation (very likely) that does not allow you to speak about your faith – your life can be a witness!

1 Peter 2:11-17

¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

¹² Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹³ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

¹⁴ Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

¹⁵ For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

¹⁶ As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

¹⁷ Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.