THOUGHTS ON THE TOPIC OF LABOR FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM

In my last posting on the topic of labor, I spoke of a fella that is a talker. He could talk an Eskimo into buying ice! Talk talk talk. For our verses this morning, there is a slightly different slant to the topic of labor that I would like to discuss.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

That topic is the “get rich quick” scheme, and the bright shiny promises that entice some to chase after this dream. I would suggest that those who seek the get rich quick dream are fundamentally those who fear a consistent and determined effort in life. To work seems to be a curse for us who look to schemes to rescue us financially.

This is a perversion of a good understanding of work/labor as described in the first chapters of Genesis, for it is good to note that the Lord instructed Adam in the work of the garden prior to the fall.

Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Remember, the fall didn’t occur until Genesis 3. Work is not a part of the curse! Of course, the curse brought upon us pain, sweat and toil in the work, (which I have personally experienced in the Texas sun of August this year), but to work is a part of the original creation!

But as I mentioned, there are some who seek an easier, quicker way, and there seems to be some temporary success in these schemes. But as Proverbs 13:11 reminds us, that riches quickly acquired dwindles away, for as we intuitively know, money is simply a tool to represent our labors in life.

If we put little labor into the acquisition of this money, the value of the money becomes less, and our management of the easily gotten funds falls victim to the same attitude of laziness. Note that when the Lord spoke of Adam working the garden, he spoke of working and keeping (or guarding) the garden.

To recieve funds quickly, or easily, implies the effort applied to the management of the funds will also be less than appropriate. This scenario is often found in the victims of lottery winners. How often have we seen those who have been provided a large winning, only to be poverty stricken within a few years again?

What is it my momma used to say. Easy come, easy go?

Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Proverbs 12:11 provides the balance we need. The writer speaks of “pleanty of bread”, not plenty of wine, and milk, and honey, and bacon, and steaks! Forget that bacon thing – this is the Old Testament!

But my point is that a diligent worker will continue to find he has the basics of life, As a amatter of fact, the verse speaks of him having plenty of the basics. One additional observation is that if we consider the last fella of the verse as a contrast to the first fella, we can note that he who works his land has plenty of bread and sense!

Does that make sense?

To labor is a blessing, and to labor for the Lord is the calling of all of His creation!

 

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