Hard Work will be Rewarded

(Prov 12:24 MSG) Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon reminds us that hard work is rewarded, laziness is not. In Solomon's time laziness could actually open the door to slavery. Without getting too deep into the slavery discussion, I will simply say that when nations fought against nations, kingdoms and against kingdoms, or armies against armies, the losing entity often had to surrender up a portion (if not all) of their people to serve as forced labor.

So, in context, Solomon's words make sense when he tells us that the lazy had a better chance of winding up as slaves than the hard workers. But even if we forget the political practices of the time, the proverb indicates that laziness inevitably leads to poverty and servitude. In chapter 10 Solomon said, "He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth" (10:4).

If you look at any of the people that Jesus selected to be on his staff, you will quickly find that they were all working. They were all doing something. They were all industrious. Even if we go back to the Old Testament and look for examples within the strange political and social climates of the time, it will not take you long to find people that were rewarded for working hard. Let me give you a couple of examples:

1. Daniel: In the book of Daniel Israel became one of the nations on the losing side I mentioned earlier. Daniel would up as an Israelite slave under the hand of the Babylonians. But Daniel worked hard and his hard work would not go unrewarded. He made his way up the ranks quickly, to the point where chapter six says: "It pleased Darius to appoint 120 royal rulers over his entire kingdom. He placed three leaders over them. One of the leaders was Daniel. The royal rulers were made accountable to the three leaders. Then the king wouldn't lose any of his wealth."


Did you get that? King Darius setup a system where he had 120 rulers over provinces and three rulers over them. Daniel - a man who was supposed to be a slave in captivity - wound up being one of the three rulers over the 120.

But wait, it get's better. The Bible goes on to say, "Daniel did a better job than the other two leaders or any of the royal rulers. He was an unusually good and able man. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom." Wow. Daniel did so good of a job that the King decided to place him over the three. There was no one above Daniel but the King himself. A man who was supposed to be a slave would up being the second in command, because he worked hard.

2. Joseph: Joseph's story is too powerful to tell it all, so I will only mention a portion of it, the part about his work in Potiphar's house. In Genesis 39 we learn that Joseph was sold as a slave to an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. The Bible says: "The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did... Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so... He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned." The only thing Potiphar concerned himself with was what he was going to eat that day. Joseph was in charge of everything. Why? Because the Lord blessed all that he DID! But that's the point. If he was lazy and did not do anything, the Lord would have nothing to bless!

So what does this mean? It means that God expects you to work diligently. Later on in Proverbs Solomon said, "Observe people who are good at their work - skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone" (22:29). If you will be faithful to work, God will be faithful to bless the work of your hands!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to be able to work. I work diligently and faithfully. I put my hands to DO all that You have blessed me to do and I know that You will bless the work of my hands. I overcome laziness, slothfulness and procrastination. No matter what others may think of me initially, my work will speak for itself. Because I work hard and Your hand is upon my life, I can't help but move up. The higher I go, that more You can be glorified in what I do! In Jesus' name. Amen!