Proverbs 14:23-24, Profit or Loss?

August 23, Proverbs 14:23-24

Luke 19:13-27 “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love” (Heb. 6:10).

Profit or Loss?

1. The Actions: Two types of activity are described. In v.23 the contrast is between real labour and mere talk, while in v.24 it is the different results of wisdom versus folly. All are not born equal, neither is all labour equal, nor is all talk useless. Purposeful work always profits, while the tongue, without a godly heart, makes for poverty. “The stirring hand gets the penny” (Henry).

a. Worthy Toil: The root of the word labour suggests something that may hurt, or give pain. It can also mean to shape character (Job 10:8) or fashion idols (Jer. 44:19). In the one it reminds us that there is always some cost, some pain, to profitable labour that is worth while. The other meaning, namely, to stretch into shape may be either a worthy goal or an abomination to God! One may seek to produce a well-formed mind by stretching a child into shape! This is what Timothy’s mother and grandmother were doing for him! You can produce either a vessel of honour or something idolatrous (Is. 10:11; 48:5). Both ideas come from the same root, hence the title above! Such labour is not accomplished without pain or effort. “Working without talking will make men rich” (Henry). How do we apply ourselves to grow spiritually? What pains do we endure that we may do exploits for God? Are we stretching ourselves in mind and heart as we seek to know more of Christ and His grace? Do we agonise in prayer? Do we serve the Lord, not counting the cost? Did not Jesus Himself say, My Father worketh hitherto and I work… The night cometh when no man can work (Jn. 5:17; i 9:4)? Here is work that profits!

b).Worthless Talk: “Talking without working will make men poor” (Henry). The word penury (poverty) is not the same word poor in vs.20, 21. Here poverty is not because of oppression, but from sloth, laziness! Now, there is profitable talk. Speech is a gift from God. We are to confess Christ with the mouth. We are commanded to rebuke sin! We can sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Even more critical, we shall all be held liable for our talk, and either justified or condemned thereby (Mt. 12:37)! The question is this, is your religion just all talk? A merely verbal religion is useless! Truly, that is all the religion a great many have! It is only from the teeth out! It is so much hot air! They are living on husks not bread! They can talk the talk with the best of them, but they don’t walk the walk. Did not our Lord Jesus rebuke, and, at the same time challenge, those following Him, Labour not for the meat that perisheth, He said, but for that meat that endureth unto everlasting life (Jn. 6:25-29). In Pilgrim’s Progress, Bunyan depicts Mr. Talkative. He is so called not because he talks, but because he does nothing but talk. His speech is not rooted in God. There is no fruitage (profit) in his life. Do you obey the command, Son, daughter, go work in my vineyard today, or do you only talk about going and never go (Mt. 21:28-31)? Here’s the bottom line: “Talk is talk, but it takes money to pay the bills.”

Thought: Better save your words till you are ready to act.

Prayer: Keep me striving toward the Mark, Lord.