Your Part in His Provision

Prov 20:13 NLT) If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

Solomon was a fan of hard/diligent work and a clearly not a fan of laziness. Solomon taught that laziness leads to poverty and diligence leads to wealth. He refers to laziness as "sleep" and diligence as "keeping your eyes open." This is not the first time he has brought this up. Back in chapter six Solomon said, "But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber" (9-11). In the last chapter he wrote, "Anyone who doesn't want to work sleeps his life away. And a person who refuses to work goes hungry" (19:15). Those are references to laziness, which leads to poverty. On the side of the equation, in chapter 10 Solomon said, "He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth" (v.4). In the 12th chapter he said, "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense" (v.11) and "If you are lazy, you will never get what you are after, but if you work hard, you will get a fortune" (v.27).

Solomon teaches that if you are too lazy to work you will find yourself with scarcity, lack, and poverty, and it will NOT be God's fault. In the New Testament, in Paul's second letter to the church at Thessalonica, he said, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2nd Thes 3:10). Paul had received word that some of the members of the church in Thessalonica were more focused on being busybodies, than being busy. He went on to say, "Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living" (verses 11,12).

It's easy for someone to say, "God is my source," and He should be, but that is no excuse for laziness. God will not overlook laziness and bless you with abundance. The Father will reward what put your hands to DO, but that's the point, you must put your hands to DO it. If you don't DO anything, then you are not giving Him anything to work with. The lazy reap what they sow - NOTHING!

Our heavenly Father does not want His children to suffer in poverty, but He is not going to send down checks from heaven. What the Father does is teach us what to do in order to prosper in the earth. For example, our God is against laziness, idleness, dishonesty, deceit, stealing, addictions, haphazardness, lack of focus, and etc. People who practice these things are susceptible to poverty.

On the other hand, God is for hard work, honesty, integrity, diligence, dedication, giving, a sense of purpose and focus, vision, clarity, freedom from addictions, love, peace, a sound mind, a strong body, and etc. People who live this way - who faithfully honor the Father in every area of their lives - open themselves up to God's best and before they know it, they are living strong, stable, and secure lives.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you have a part in God's provision for your life. Don't blame God for everything. Take an honest look at your financial situation and at the overall condition of your life. You know God was not solely responsible for it. Whether good or bad, up or down, rich or poor, you had something to do with it. Does God have a part? Absolutely! But God is going to either bless or reject what you DO! So determine today to do all the things that promote a good and Godly life.

If you do your part, God will do His!

Father, I thank You for teaching me in Your Word and by Your Spirit to walk in Your best. I declare, by faith, that I am not lazy, I have a strong work ethic, I am diligent, dedicated, honest, and purpose-driven. I walk in integrity, love, joy, and peace. I am free from all fear, bitterness, strife, and the power of addictions. I honor You with my finances and You bless me to continue to BE a blessing to others. I do my part and You do Yours. I walk in the Blessing of Abraham, which is natural, and the Blessing of Jesus, which is Spiritual! In Jesus' name. Amen!