Daily Devotion of Proverbs 26

Daily Nugget:
“… 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth…” Proverbs 26:13-16

In Proverbs 26:13-16, the type of person that wastes his time on this Earth and misses being all he could be is mentioned. The person discussed is “slothful.” This type of person refuses to work or does all he can to avoid it. He is a “sluggard,” and his laziness hurts him more than he realizes.

Work is good and should not be avoided. It helps a person feel better about himself as labor allows him to help himself and society.

The Bible talks much about work. Read some of what the Word of God teaches about laboring:

• God works. If the creator works, those that He created should follow His example. Creation was some of God’s work.
  “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;…” Gen. 2:2 Also: Ex. 20:9, Ps. 8:3.
  God works at protecting His people. See Ex. 1:31.
• Jesus worked. If we are Christians, or “Christ-like,” we should emulate Jesus’ work ethic.
  “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 5:17 Also: John 4:34.
• God wants us to work.
  “… this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” II Thes. 3:10
  “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” I Thes. 4:11
  “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:” Ex. 20:9 Also: Deut. 5:13, Ps. 104:23.
• One will be happier if he works for what he gets.
  “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Psalm 128:2
  “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.“ Prov. 13:11 Those that try to get money the easy way without laboring for it, often find that they are always broke and cannot seem to keep what they have.
  “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Eccl. 2:24  Also: Prov. 14:23, Eccl. 3:13.
• God can bless a hard worker, as He did Job.
  “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:10 Also: Ps. 62:12, Eccl. 3:13.
• There is the work of ungodly that God does not accept, and the godly should avoid.
  “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Mt 7:23 Also: Ps. 101:3, Ps. 135:15, Prov. 11:18, II Tim. 4:18.
• A person’s character is often judged by his work ethic.
  “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Prov. 20:11 Also: II Thes. 3:8
• There is a reward for laboring.
  “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” I Cor. 3:8
• Serving God involves work.
  “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” II Tim. 4:5 Also: Rom. 16:12.
• Worshiping God can involve working.
  Israel had to work to make the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple. See Ex. 40:33.
  Work was required to repair the damaged temple, so Israel could resume worship. See: Neh. 2:16.
  “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 Also: John 6:28, Eph. 4:12.
• God knows about our work.
  “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil …” Rev. 2:2 Also: Prov. 15:19.
• One will not have his needs met if he does not work for them. He will have a hard life and will find himself wanting.
  “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.“ Prov. 20:4
  “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Prov.10:4 Also: Prov. 12:24, Prov. 15:19.
• Laziness (slothfulness) hurts a person!
  “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” Prov. 21:25
  “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Prov. 13:4

Work is healthy and should be desired. It gives one a purpose. Laziness has often been a thief to rob one of usefulness and pride (the right kind) and has destroyed and wasted many lives. 

God has you here for a purpose. Ask the Lord to show you what He has for you to do and do it.

Today’s Thought: 
“If you’re waiting for something to turn up, try turning up your sleeves and do the first thing you see that needs to be done!” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Dissembleth: deceiving others by not doing what it appears one is doing; deception
Potsherd: a broken piece of pottery
Slothful: a person that does not want to work
Sluggard: a lazy person

Today’s Reading:
Proverbs 26
1 ¶ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 ¶ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 ¶ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 ¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 ¶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 ¶ The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 ¶ Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 ¶ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 ¶ As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 ¶ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 ¶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 ¶ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 ¶ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 ¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 ¶ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 ¶ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 ¶ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 ¶ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.