Dividends of Dilgence

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
DIVIDENDS OF DILGENCE
Prov 12:27
27 The lazy man does not roast his game,
but the diligent man prizes his possessions.
NIV
It would appear there is little gain in being lazy. There is also a little difference in other translations regarding the order of the second phrase. Some make the prize possession of a man diligence while here a diligent man prizes his possessions. The Hebrew order of words could be seen both ways, but I believe I have the correct impression from the original language which agrees with the latter. First it would appear a lazy man does not catch or snare his own game, but lives off the efforts of others. But is also makes perfect sense a man who does not put forth effort in his relationship with God would not care about what he has from the hand of God. But the man who is diligent in his relationship with God puts great value in that which he receives from the hand of God. The value of course is not in the actually owning of the possession, but in the fact he has a testimony of God’s provisions. What can a lazy man boast in his catch other than in him? It is of little value to him as he either did not work for it himself, or he does not recognize from whom he receives it. I have no doubt from whom I have received all I have and I have used those possessions as a testimony to his great provisions. I have never claimed all I have is from my great skill, talent or abilities, but that God has seen to it I have what I have. I certainly enjoy them to their fullest, but my joy is due to God having provided them for me. How much greater are these things coming from the hand of God then from my own efforts. I have testified over and over again about how God has given me all that I have. I have preached about it, written in my books about it, giving him all the glory for all if it. I believe I have been diligent about not taking any credit for what I have, and been diligent in giving him all the credit. I think the greatness in all my stuff is because God has seen to it I have it. I care about my things because I can tell people God has given them to me. Sure, I enjoy my home and all that is in it, my cars, and my toys. Why shouldn’t I, God does give them to me so I could enjoy them in the process of giving him all the glory for them. Maybe the reason I have all I have is because he knows I will give him all the credit. Maybe if I were lazy in my testifying of his provisions, I would not have them to testify about. But I am not lazy, I am diligent and thus I have a great prize, I have God in my life, I have eternal life, the greatest prize of them all, the greatest provision of them all. God has provided me with all the stuff of this world I need, but he has provided me with Jesus Christ for all I need for the eternal life to come.