‘He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich’ Pr. 10:4 NKJV

The question to ask from ourselves today is this: Do you want to be rich? Then be diligent. If you deal with a slack hand, the Bible says you will become poor.

The lesson here is ‘…don’t envy a wealthy man if you are a lazy person.’ If you have a job right now, work diligently as if you are the owner of the company. The owner will be happy for your work attitude and in response, you will be promoted – isn’t that a win-win situation? The Bible says ‘…he that gathers in summer is a wise son… (verse 5);’ so do your work on-time and do not delay assignments.  As you go to work today, determine that you will not procrastinate on any assignment you are given. If you are fond of procrastinating, you have to pray that God will help you overcome this lifestyle while you determine to make necessary changes.

We can make the following conclusions from our study today: He that wants to be poor would work like a lazy person, but he that wants to be rich should work diligently. May God bless and prosper your ways today, in Jesus name.

“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags. The locusts have no king, yet they are all advance in ranks. The spider skilfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces” Proverbs 30:24-28 NKJV

If you could spend some time to study these four verses of scripture in as many translations as you can lay your hands upon, including probably the Bible in your local language; you will come to understand that your circumstances are not enough to limit your achievements and rising in life.

Imagine how frail the ants are, yet they succeed in storing up in summer all the food they will need in winter; I wonder at their wisdom (Proverbs 6:6-8). The conies seem to be weak, yet they make their homes among the rocks! Locusts have no king, yet they go forward in formation – I wonder how they do that! Also, lizards and spiders which you can easily hold in your hands sneaks past vigilant royal guards to dwell in palaces! God has given each of these four small creatures the wisdom and inherent abilities to survive in different life situations despite how feeble they are; the wonderworks of God!

If you would look inward, and lift your heart unto God for wisdom, you will receive the light you need to come out of every predicament of life. ‘…Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).’  This year is a fresh opportunity from God to you; take it with wisdom.

“One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a lout; they were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down. I took a long look and pondered what I saw; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened: ‘A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back take it easy – do you know what come next? Just this: You can look forward to dirt-poor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!” Proverbs 24:30 – 34 MSG

A lazy man does not have understanding. Whatever ideas you might have; however great a potential you possess; without diligent hard work, it cannot come to fruition. However great a plan you might have received of the Lord and properly written out, if you do not arise and diligently execute them, there can be no beauty and prosperity.

You might succeed to plant a vast field of grain and you built a barn of stones, all well laid out; without a lifestyle of sustained disciplined and diligence, everything will waste away with time.

Diligence is simply ‘you consistently daily working on your field.’ Do not procrastinate, do not be slack. Work at the time of work and sleep at the time of sleep. This is wisdom. Otherwise, it would ‘suddenly’ dawn on you that you have wasted your opportunity and you have become a permanent host of poverty, ensnared by its nuisance. Please do not be lazy. Take time to think right now and make necessary adjustments in your lifestyle.

 “First plant your fields; then build your barn” Proverbs 24:27

This is wisdom. Do the 1st things 1st. Let your priorities be right. A farmer will only need the barn to keep the harvest. He will have crop to harvest only if he had planted! Get a clear plan before you begin to build. Take care of your own home before you can have strength to care for others. This is the principle we see here; and it is good to apply it at this early part of the year.

So, take time to think about your life. For example, it might be wise for you to sit for one more professional exam and pass it before you apply for the next position. Sow your bountiful seed, and then expect the plentiful harvest. There is a time in life that you work hard and invest; later in life you expect dividends. Notice the word ‘fields’; plant your fields. Ask God to show you the different aspects that you can invest in, and then take the necessary action. When it is harvest time, your barn will certainly be full to overflow.

Amplified version puts the verse this way: ‘[Put first things first.] Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house and establish a home.’ I believe this is some dimension of wisdom for single people to consider when planning for their future.

May you walk in divine wisdom in every aspect of your life this year, in Jesus name; have a great day.

“It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation: it takes knowledge to furnish the rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies. It is better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel”. Proverbs 24:3-6 MSG

Wisdom, understanding and knowledge are three essential layers of the foundation for anything you do or want to become. Your home can only come out well built if it is founded on this composite foundation.

I believe wisdom is simply ‘the ability to access the mind of God’ about any matter. Understanding is an act of wisdom. These two ‘attributes’ can only be seen in manifestation, though you might not be able to touch them. We know when the wind is blowing because of its effects that we see! Your depth of knowledge depends on the information you can gather around you. It is by your level of knowledge that you can bring heavenly insight (which is a combination of wisdom and understanding) to benefit the human race in this terrestrial world.

Wisdom begins as you deliberately seek to access divine information. Start by seeking God’s mind about your home or business. Then equip yourself with information around you, in light of what heaven has revealed to you. Read wide, ask questions, and seek counsel if necessary. Then you can effect what you ‘saw’ and do it beautifully. It’s not too late to lay this essential foundation. Remember, strategic planning is the key to warfare.  This year will be your year of winning.

 ‘Above all and before all, do this: get wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get understanding. Throw your arms around her – believe me, you won’t regret it, Never let her go – she’ll make your life glorious. She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty’. Proverbs 4:7-9 MSG

The King James Version of today’s scripture starts by saying ‘wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom’. Make it your priority to obtain the mind of God concerning everything before you act. If you would soak your heart and mind with the way God thinks about every issue of life, you will have the mind of God and will be able to build your life on wisdom. Your life will be made glorious and certainly you will be very glad with the result.

The entire world was formed by God’s wisdom (Ps 104:24).

Take time to think through on your ideas and the different decisions you need to make. Base your thoughts on the principles of the word. Give all it takes to get God’s mind before you act. This was what Solomon’s father told him when he was young;

‘When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me: ‘Take this to heart. Do what I tell you – live! Sell everything and buy wisdom! Forage for understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Proverbs 4:3-5 MSG

‘Honour the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; so your bans will be filled with plenty, and our vast will overflow with new wine’. Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV

This scripture states clearly the way to have abundance. I like the message version: ‘Honour God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst; your wine vast will brim over’. You now have in your hands the blueprint for the path to increase and great wealth. This is the lifestyle of the kingdom of God. It is God’s way of doing things with regards to wealth creation and sustenance.

Gen 8:22 says ‘while the earth remains, seed time and harvest … shall not cease’. The way to have is to give. This is a number one principle of the kingdom. This principle actually applies to every aspect of life. You need a friend, be friendly; you want to be loved, give love; you desire to be respected more, give respect; etc. So, for you to enjoy God’s abundance this year, make up your mind to live a lifestyle of giving. Faithfully pay your tithe and give offerings, and your barns will be filled with plenty and your cruse of oil will never run dry. Think through and make sure you Start NOW.

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones’. Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV

At the beginning of a new year, new job or a new phase of life; say a fresh marriage relationship, for example; we are filled with fresh hopes. New beginning presents fresh opportunities & aspirations. On the other hand, they are also characterized with the concerns of the unknown. As you begin this New Year, our scripture for today is well spelt out in the Contemporary English version:

With your heart you must trust the Lord and not your judgement. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong’

Do not depend on your past experiences. No matter what you see, feel, think, or hear. Determine to trust God and allow him lead you. You are set for a peaceful and prosperous year, in Jesus name.

“My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life (worth living) and tranquility (inward and outward and continuing through old age till death), these shall they add to you”. Proverbs 3:1-2 Amp

I would like us to meditate on these two verses of scriptures. It gives a very simple but precise key to a good life! I like the contemporary English version; ‘My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely. They will help you live a long and prosperous life’.

The key here is to completely obey God’s teachings and instructions. The word of God addresses every issue of life; your health, marriage, business, etc. If you would take these instructions to heart and obey them, you will enjoy your every day on this earth.

My prayer is that you will live a long, strong, and fulfilled life in Jesus name, amen. Have a great day.

Other scriptures: Deut. 28:1-14

 ‘My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; …Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God’ Proverbs 2:1-5

The scripture makes it clear to us that ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Pr. 1:7). Many times the concept of ‘the fear of the Lord’ sounds mysterious and scary. In today’s scripture, the Lord has laid it plain to us how to walk in reverential fear of God.

1. Receive God’s word, and hide it in your heart (verse 1). Do this daily and deliberately. You will know God’s opinion about every life issue.
2. Determine to make God’s word the basis of your opinion and decisions on every life issue.

When you do this, you will be able to give heed to, or pay attention to God’s wisdom for your daily life. Verses 3 & 4 of proverbs 2 states clearly that we should place emphases on the both study and obeying God’s word. This seems to me that we cannot be flimsy when it comes to reading and studying and living by the word.

When you give daily attention to the study of God’s word (not so much about volume, but about consistency and adequate proportion), and put it into practice, you will naturally get to know God, and you will find it normal to walk in reverential fear of Him. The result is that your way will be marked with riches, honour and good life (Proverbs 22:4).