Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."
Where there is a heartbeat and a brain wave, there is a desire for something. Even at the end of life, the human soul desires more time despite being depleted of strength, health and comfort. We all want something. All the time, we all want something. Our desires are strong and they are incredibly significant, especially when factoring in the moral nature of our desires. Evil desires will lead to evil actions or at the very least, additional evil desires. Righteous desires will lead to righteous behavior or at the very least, further righteous cravings. That being said, the nature of one's desires is not a consideration in this proverb. The subject of this proverb is the role character plays in our desires.
Sluggards do nothing substantial with their desires. Lazy souls do a lot dreaming but little working. They dream big dreams but implement little to no effort in attempt to accomplish those dreams. They talk about what they want but never get off the couch to pursue what they want. They live their days dreaming about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but never put their shoes on to go get that pot of gold.
Slothfulness is revealed by comparing a person's dreams with that person's status. If a man is always talking about ideas of becoming rich while seemingly living in poverty, that man is likely lazy. If a man spends his days searching the internet for ways to get rich while steeped in debt, that man is most definitely lazy. If a woman is constantly talking about wanting friends but has none, that woman is likely lazy, relationally-speaking. If a woman spends her days watching online videos about marriage while continuing to ignore her husband's requests or concerns, that woman is most definitely lazy. When the reality of a person's life doesn't reflect that person's dreams, there is clear evidence of laziness. The sluggard has desires but nothing to show for them. Lazy people spend their days the way most people spend their nights - dreaming about what they want but never actually getting what they dream about.
On the flip side of the proverb stands the diligent. These souls don't get rich quick but because they're consistently working towards their goals, they slowly but surely are "made fat." The diligent have desires but they're not content merely thinking or talking about them. These hard-working souls understand that nothing good in life comes quick or easy so they work to fulfill their desires. Diligence is the virtue that recognizes dreams are dangerous without hands. Dreams can easily consume us. Dreams can easily consume so much of our thoughts that we never engage our hands. They can consume so much of our time that we never get to work. Dreams can lead to further dreams that make reality out of reach. They can paralyze us in a world of want. Diligence is the virtue that bridles our desires. It is the virtue that vets the practicality and possibility of our dreams. It is the virtue that immediately gets to work pursuing our desires and then keeps those desires attainable. Without diligence, dreams are dangerous.
Without diligence, dreams of becoming financially secure grow into dreams of becoming disgustingly wealthy. Without working a real job or two, money seems too easy to make and before long, that dreamer is spending his days researching how to get rich quick all day, every day. Without diligence, dreams of having a good marriage grows into dreams of having the perfect spouse. Without working hard at a real relationship, the perfect spouse seems realistic and before long, that dreamer is spending their day figuring out how to find or create the perfect spouse. For most men seeking financial security, apathy isn't the problem - inaction is the problem. For most women seeking relational security, good ideas are not the problem - follow-through is the problem.
Our homes and churches are full of good desires but due to a lack of diligence, there is all too often nothing to show for it. Many men want a good marriage but because they're not diligent in their love towards their wife, they lack companionship. They have nothing to show for their desires. Many women want a good home but because they're not diligent in ruling their spirit, they lack a joyful home. They have nothing to show for their desires. Many men want to provide for their family and fix up their houses but because they're not diligent, they lack the fulfillment and respect that comes with doing those things. Many believers want to serve God but because they're not diligent in their time management, they have nothing to show for their desires.
A diligent person is always working and for that reason, always has something. Diligence keeps dreams grounded and attainable. Little by little, day after day, the soul of the diligent is made fat. If you desire financial security, diligence can help you secure your desire and more importantly, keep that desire from getting dangerously impossible. If you have dreams for marital fulfillment, diligence will help you pursue holy romance and keep your dream from getting dangerously unrealistic. If you desire answers from God, victory over sin, friendships, knowledge, promotion or any other healthy dream, be diligent in your pursuit and that virtue will eventually make your soul fat.
Without hard work, your desires will consume you…all of you.
Get to work and your desires will simply but surely motivate you, as God originally intended.
Sluggards do nothing substantial with their desires. Lazy souls do a lot dreaming but little working. They dream big dreams but implement little to no effort in attempt to accomplish those dreams. They talk about what they want but never get off the couch to pursue what they want. They live their days dreaming about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but never put their shoes on to go get that pot of gold.
Slothfulness is revealed by comparing a person's dreams with that person's status. If a man is always talking about ideas of becoming rich while seemingly living in poverty, that man is likely lazy. If a man spends his days searching the internet for ways to get rich while steeped in debt, that man is most definitely lazy. If a woman is constantly talking about wanting friends but has none, that woman is likely lazy, relationally-speaking. If a woman spends her days watching online videos about marriage while continuing to ignore her husband's requests or concerns, that woman is most definitely lazy. When the reality of a person's life doesn't reflect that person's dreams, there is clear evidence of laziness. The sluggard has desires but nothing to show for them. Lazy people spend their days the way most people spend their nights - dreaming about what they want but never actually getting what they dream about.
On the flip side of the proverb stands the diligent. These souls don't get rich quick but because they're consistently working towards their goals, they slowly but surely are "made fat." The diligent have desires but they're not content merely thinking or talking about them. These hard-working souls understand that nothing good in life comes quick or easy so they work to fulfill their desires. Diligence is the virtue that recognizes dreams are dangerous without hands. Dreams can easily consume us. Dreams can easily consume so much of our thoughts that we never engage our hands. They can consume so much of our time that we never get to work. Dreams can lead to further dreams that make reality out of reach. They can paralyze us in a world of want. Diligence is the virtue that bridles our desires. It is the virtue that vets the practicality and possibility of our dreams. It is the virtue that immediately gets to work pursuing our desires and then keeps those desires attainable. Without diligence, dreams are dangerous.
Without diligence, dreams of becoming financially secure grow into dreams of becoming disgustingly wealthy. Without working a real job or two, money seems too easy to make and before long, that dreamer is spending his days researching how to get rich quick all day, every day. Without diligence, dreams of having a good marriage grows into dreams of having the perfect spouse. Without working hard at a real relationship, the perfect spouse seems realistic and before long, that dreamer is spending their day figuring out how to find or create the perfect spouse. For most men seeking financial security, apathy isn't the problem - inaction is the problem. For most women seeking relational security, good ideas are not the problem - follow-through is the problem.
Our homes and churches are full of good desires but due to a lack of diligence, there is all too often nothing to show for it. Many men want a good marriage but because they're not diligent in their love towards their wife, they lack companionship. They have nothing to show for their desires. Many women want a good home but because they're not diligent in ruling their spirit, they lack a joyful home. They have nothing to show for their desires. Many men want to provide for their family and fix up their houses but because they're not diligent, they lack the fulfillment and respect that comes with doing those things. Many believers want to serve God but because they're not diligent in their time management, they have nothing to show for their desires.
A diligent person is always working and for that reason, always has something. Diligence keeps dreams grounded and attainable. Little by little, day after day, the soul of the diligent is made fat. If you desire financial security, diligence can help you secure your desire and more importantly, keep that desire from getting dangerously impossible. If you have dreams for marital fulfillment, diligence will help you pursue holy romance and keep your dream from getting dangerously unrealistic. If you desire answers from God, victory over sin, friendships, knowledge, promotion or any other healthy dream, be diligent in your pursuit and that virtue will eventually make your soul fat.
Without hard work, your desires will consume you…all of you.
Get to work and your desires will simply but surely motivate you, as God originally intended.
Posted in Proverbs Commentary
Tagged with diligence, Hard Work, Work Ethic, laziness, slothfulness, sluggard, lazy, marriage, relationships, Friendships, Financial Security, Jobs, work, Homes, Dreams, Desires
Tagged with diligence, Hard Work, Work Ethic, laziness, slothfulness, sluggard, lazy, marriage, relationships, Friendships, Financial Security, Jobs, work, Homes, Dreams, Desires
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