He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. (Proverbs 10:4)
Rich is a word that conjures up different ideas in people’s minds. Maybe it makes you think of someone who owns a mansion, or someone who is the owner of a large business. God’s riches are so much more than mere finances. God wants you to live in a richness of life.
How can we see that richness live in our lives? Proverbs 10:4 says that we must be diligent.
The term diligent describes people who are determined and committed to excellence in everything they put their hand to do. They are the ones who understand that success is not achieved through wishful thinking or by making others work for you. Real, Godly success is found through hard work and perseverance.
The media and world around us push and pursue instant gratification, where we can get mediocre results from shortcuts and doing things halfway. The Bible teaches us that believers must have a heart of diligence if we want to see true prosperity.
This verse also implies how important it is to make wise choices in our relationships, especially in matters as significant as marriage. Don’t just date someone because of their physical characteristics or bank account. You need to consider the character of the person and the values and goals they live their life by. Marriage is not about finding someone to fulfill our needs or make us whole. It's about finding a partner that we can share our journey, support each other's growth, and contribute to each other's happiness. A Godly marriage is based on how well we can give, not just receive.
Practical Application
Think about your current relationships, especially romantic ones. Are they diligent individuals? Look beyond surface-level qualities and consider whether they share your values, work ethic, and long-term goals. Get out of friendships that aren’t pointing you in the right direction and pray that your spouse practices diligence in everything they do.