Honest Work

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 13

Gold Nugget
Verse 11: “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.”

Commentary

The old saying, “Cheaters never prosper” (or as Zazu said in the Lion King, “Cheetah’s never prosper”), is a plagiarizing of today’s gold nugget that says, “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.” When it comes to truth lessons, God said it first. Lying, cheating and ill-advised shortcuts may seem prosperous, but ultimately the result is diminishing. It may seem beneficial to claim that extra deduction or slight fudging of some numbers, but in truth we are taking prosperity into our own hands instead of leaving our wellbeing in God’s hands.

The later part of today’s gold nugget says, “he who gathers by labor will increase”. Hard work has always been the respectable thing. Currently we are finding the present white house administration being challenged with this reality. After ever increasing unemployment benefits and stimulus packages, even the liberal president is concerned people are choosing to avoid work and live off the government. Maybe our country should turn from its current social agenda toward a biblical truth that says, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

 

Prayer
Lord, help me to be committed to hard work while upholding a standard for truth and honesty. Amen

 

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