30 Day Cleanse - Day 14

Scripture

"In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." --Proverbs 14:23

Observe

Hard work brings about abundance, but just talking leaves a void.

Multiple Uses

For Future Kings:  Solomon reminds his sons that kingdoms are not made successful by the length of the king's speech, but by the strength of his efforts.

For Bible Times:  Most of the reading audience would have been farmers, gardeners, craftsman, and people of trade. For them, the message is that all of their hard work will bring about provision, but if they are idol (for example, sitting and chatting instead of working) they will not get anything accomplished.

For Today:  Most of us do not barter and trade for the things we need. We work for our wages, and use the compensation to purchase the things we need. This passage encourages us to be diligent workers, so we can get paid. AKA-Talking about getting a job doesn't actually make us any money.

Apply

This verse applies to our Christian walk, as well.

For Our PERSONAL Spiritual Growth:  James 1:22 states, "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." We need to make sure that we don't just talk about God's word, but apply it to our lives. The extra work taken to make spiritual truths our reality WILL pay off.

For Others to Know God:  Later in his book, James says this: "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, 'Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.'" --James 2:14-18

Likewise, 1 John 3:18 says, "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

In order to be proper ambassadors of God's Kingdom, we must do more than just love people with our words. We must take care of their practical needs.

Our hard work will bring about spiritual abundance in our lives, and in the lives of those around us.

Pray

God, we pray that everything we do would be done for your glory. We ask that you would help us to internalize your word, to make it part of our lives so that we live by it. Help us to listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance, so our hearts and our actions will line up with your will. Amen.

Your Turn!!!

Is God challenging you through this passage? Is there anything else in Proverbs 14 that stood out to you?