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12:14: From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hands shall come back to him [as a harvest]. |
| The work you do will come back to you as a harvest. It's not in vain. Don't be discouraged and think that there is no reward for the job that you do. You have a harvest coming as a result of your hard work! | |
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12:24: The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. |
| .Diligence is characterized by persevering, painstaking effort.*
Impatience will keep you from reaping the rewards of diligence.
When you give your job your best, promotion is the reward. Years
ago I worked at a place where a new employee came in and said that he
felt he was only getting paid enough to work about 4 hours. So he
worked for 4 hours and watched T.V. the other 4. Needless to say,
he did not work for us for very long and he was fired from his next job
as well. Your hard work is an investment that will pay off in the
end. *American Heritage Dictionary |
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12:27: The slothful man does not catch his game or roast it once he kills it, but the diligent man gets precious possessions. |
| .Why would the diligent man get precious possessions? Because of his perseverance and his patience. He is able to understand the concept of delaying his gratification and saving for what he wants instead of looking for the quick and easy way all the time. In the end, patience and diligence will always pay off. | |
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13:4: The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied. |
| Those who are lazy and not willing to work will be in a state of lack. That's because they always want more than what they have. The diligent aren't in this state of lack for two reasons. One is because their hard work pays off and they have the money they need for things and two because they, like Paul the Apostle, have learned to be content no matter what is going on in their life. They've learned to draw from the peace within and not to yield to the mind of the flesh which is constantly striving for what it doesn't have. | |
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13:11 Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches]. |
| .The glitter and glamour of instant wealth won't last. But the wealth that comes from diligence in your work will remain. It may take longer to get there but in the end it will remain because you've learned how to handle it. Instant wealth destroys many people. Diligence, patience and perseverance develops characteristics in a person that teaches them how to handle wealth when it comes. | |
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13:18: Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored. |
| It's very irritating to be around a 'know it all'. If you already think you know something then you're not open to learn anything new. Having a teachable attitude is key to success. If you're one who is able to listen to correction and even criticisms you will be honored in the end for your wisdom and success. | |
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13:25: The [uncompromisingly] righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want. |
| .The book of Proverbs shows us that the righteous, the diligent and the wise are one and the same person. In the same way the wicked, the foolish and the lazy are the same person. To be righteous doesn't mean you just trust in the Lord and sit back and do nothing but wait on Him. There is something you need to do. There is something for you to be diligent in. God has gifted you with a gift that will benefit society and provide for you at the same time. As you discover what that gift is and pursue it diligently then your provision and prosperity will come through your God-given gift. | |
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14:4: Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox. |
| .Oxen are a symbol of human strength and effort. There are certain things that all the efforts of mankind can't change, but here we're told that increase comes by our effort and strength. It comes by hard work. If you want prosperity in your life that will remain, you will need to be diligent and persistent in your work. | |
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14:23: In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty. |
| .There is profit to all your labor. There is a benefit to all the hard work you do. Yet those who just talk and don't really do, will come to poverty. I'm sure you all have had someone on your job who doesn't really work hard. There are people all across the world who are employed but yet they would rather sit and talk all day instead of doing their job. That attitude leads to poverty. If you are one who works hard and doesn't slack off, your reward is coming! | |
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15:6: In the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is great [priceless] treasure, but with the income of the wicked is trouble and vexation. |
| Again we see the righteous as owners of great treasure and the wicked's income coming with trouble. There is a relation between how you live and your prosperity. When you love God and His ways more than money, you will have integrity and money will not be able to control you. Greed will not be able to control you. You will put righteous living above earning money and even if it looks like that causes you to take the long way around to prosperity, it will pay off for you in the end. | |
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15:15: All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. |
| .When you have an attitude of thankfulness--a glad heart--you will be continually feasting no matter what your circumstances are. Instead of looking around your house with a critical eye and seeing all that is wrong, and all that is lacking, and all the things you would like to do to make things better--look at your home with a thankful eye and begin to thank God for all that you have. It doesn't matter how bad it is--just get rid of that criticism and negativity. It is hindering your peace and happiness. | |
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15:16: Better is little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it. |
| .The end goal is not just to get rich. If that is your goal then you'll get a lot of trouble along with your riches. It's better to revere and worship the Lord and live a simple life in peace then to strive for riches and have trouble. | |
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