“Idle hands make one poor,
but diligent hands bring riches.
The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.”
(Proverbs 10:4-5)
Throughout scripture, there are warnings against the dangers of wealth. In Luke 6:24, Jesus even warns those who have wealth, saying, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort.” Elsewhere Paul says to Timothy, “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.” Now is wealth bad? Not necessarily. But what these passages are addressing is the tendency for wealthy people to rely on themselves, to depend not on God, who is the provider, but on their efforts. Because of man’s sinfulness, what can be a good gift of God’s provision is often distorted. However, that distorted view of wealth aside, many passages admonish God’s people to work hard, and wealth may follow.
Proverbs 10:4 says, “Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.” To be idle or lazy is to refuse to work. And to refuse to work hard leads to poverty. On the other hand, hard work, dedication, effort rightly applied can and often will lead to riches. Now being poor isn’t inherently wrong. Jesus himself was likely poorer than most of us. However, poverty as a result of laziness is wrong and sinful.
Proverbs 10:5 says, “The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.” The son who does not work when it’s harvest time is disgraceful because his laziness will result from a lack of provision. God has ordained the world that the way he comes through is often using your effort and work to provide practically for his people. So do not put your hope in wealth, and do not run away from the hard work that may lead to it either. The prideful rich person and the poor sluggard are both missing the fullness of God’s blessing.