The Harvest Reward

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!

Promotion

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

Precious Possessions

 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.

Abundance Supplied

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.

Easy Come Easy Go

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.

A Teachable Heart

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.