Providence and diligence must go together. On the one hand we are told that, “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry” (10:3) but right after this we have the proverb: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (10:4). We should not, therefore, expect God to automatically provide for us if our lack has to do with us being lazy. But if we have done all that we can, we should trust God to enable us to enjoy the fruit of our labour. The next proverb expands on the principle: “He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son” (10:5). God provides the harvest but if we are not prepared to be diligent and gather it in, then in effect, we spurn God’s providence. Some people get the diligence part but not the trust aspect. They work hard but they cannot stop working out of a compulsion to store up more and more wealth or to achieve maximum success for maximum security. This approach makes a person as poor as the lazy man but in a different way. It robs us of life by making us a slave to our fears and insecurities. Work hard then, but trust God to provide for you. Your achievements are not your security. Our security must be in God alone.
Reflect on your diligence and your trust in God.
Read Proverbs 10:1-10
