In all labour there is profit: but
the talk of the lips
tendeth only to penury (This means
poverty).
Prov 14:23 (KJV), parenthesis added
There is a great disconnect in America today between talking and
actually doing something. The Proverb above is absolutely true—American’s like
to sit and talk about everything. We watch talk shows that bear absolutely no
fruit in our lives despite the many hundreds of hours that we have sacrificed
to view them. We listen to radio programs and so on. Now, I am not saying that listening to someone or something is ever wrong.
It can be very fruitful at times! However,
what Americans need learn is to stop talking and start laboring.
No longer are Americans known for being people who do something as our
ancestors were. The Pilgrims, the Puritans, the Settlers of the West were
people who worked hard. Today, we don’t see that very much. And in my
generation it seems virtually non-existent.
The Bible is very emphatic that hard work and diligence bring rewards.
Here are a few:
Much food in
tillage of the poor
Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is
that
is destroyed for want of judgment.
Prov 13:23 (KJV)
Know the
state of thy flocks and herds
Be thou diligent to know the state
of
thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
Prov 27:23 (KJV)
Lambs for
clothing and goats for price of the field
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And
thou shalt have goats' milk
enough for thy food, for the food
of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
Prov 27:26-27 (KJV)
These verses refer to animals and crops that are daily, weekly, monthly,
and yearly tended to. Today, our average lifestyle in America means get up,
eat, get a shower and go to work/school. There is not much routine that we must
do to provide for ourselves and our families. We aren’t milking the cows and
gathering the eggs, but spending fifteen seconds to get the milk and pour it on
our cereal. Many then sit in offices all day—doing very little physically.
This does not appear to line up with God’s plan. Despite modern
conveniences, we still need to apply effort in our daily lives. Americans have
one of the, if not the highest, standards of living in the world but without
getting back to hard work it will ultimately crumble.
During my time in an office environment, I was in and saw meetings take
place far too often. We talked and talked and talked about the problem and
solutions but so little was usually done. Months later, the same things would
simply be repeated and action delayed once again. Some meetings can be fruitful if decisive action is taken, but mere
talk (simply talking about the problem for the sake of talking), as the Bible
says, leads to poverty. There is no productivity or great result. Paul warned
us to avoid foolish controversies—I’ve
been learning that a lot of conversations about politics and even doctrine is
usually a foolish controversy. I think that Facebook posts and articles are
more effective it seems to actually reaching people with truth in small
snippets. Yet, a lot of Facebook “debates” need to be avoided. In other words,
learn to detect when someone is genuinely asking a question and open to hear
what God’s Word has to say and what the facts of history are and when they just
want to argue. When people just want to argue refuse to waste time talking with
them and move on. There may be some cases where God prompts us by His Holy
Spirit to boldly confront the arrogant fool, but generally speaking, talking
with a fool is a foolish controversy, mere talk that should be avoided.
But avoid foolish questions, and
genealogies, and contentions,
and strivings about the law; for they are
unprofitable and vain.
Titus 3:9 (KJV)
We need to be
doing things. Too long in America,
we stay children. The average man isn’t grown up by thirty years of age, maybe
even older by now, in this country. Children do not need to just play and be
entertained (although there is a proper place for that), they need to be
growing up, given small responsibilities to prove faithful in, experimenting,
and trying out entrepreneurial endeavors while kids. Lemonade stands, lawn
maintenance, and garage sales teach lessons to kids that last a lifetime. And
learning to be faithful in small, daily tasks and responsibilities teaches
character that is rare to find today.
How can you labor? It is sure to bring a
profit.
Now, we will not gain financial rewards
from all that we labor in, but we will profit in skills, relationships, and
blessings. You can take God at His Word—All
Labor Does Bring Profit!
