Proverbs 12:24 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 12:24

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The hand stands for the actions. The word diligent means sharp, as of an agricultural instrument that is prepared for use. The idea is of one who has honed their skills for the job that lies ahead and has prepared himself to face the difficulties of the job through training and practice. Such a one will be noted for his skills and placed in a position of leadership. He has already shown his serious commitment to life’s challenges, and his readiness to do the hard work necessary to face a demanding task will be rewarded. This is not the same as raw ambition which can be centred on self, but is about wanting to do good to others. Those who are responsible for appointing rulers are on the lookout for those who are willing to set aside personal comfort and endure hardship in the interests of a cause. But those who show no initiative, who do not consider any cause worth preparing for, who always seek first their own ease are more likely to be put to forced labour, doing something which they would rather not do, because compulsion is the only thing that will get anything useful out of them. The believer is viewed as being in the first category. He says with David, ‘Is there not a cause?’, and he is willing to put his hand to the work. While he is in the world he does not act lethargically, but remembers that he serves the Lord of lords and King of kings, and has been called to an eternal kingdom. This is the standard which the believer needs constantly to be reminding himself of, so that he puts to death the slackness which arises naturally from his old nature.But the slothful – which actually means the deceiver – shall be under tribute, under a burden of labour, in a forced labour gang perhaps. Why is deceiver translated slothful? Because he is the son on the farm who only pretends to work. Here is the person in the office who walks around with a bundle of papers, and looks efficient, but is not doing very much. He is skiving underneath a minimal show of effort: that is the deceitful element to slothful. The idea here is that the diligent, thorough person in the end is giving instructions to others. Whereas the person who takes short-cuts and cheats and makes no effort, is taking instruction from others.

Application

The diligent person, the thorough person, has grasped one of the significant things of the Christian life. We are a kingdom of priests, we are representatives, we are meant to show forth the praises of the God who has called us. Speech is tremendously important to the believer. We are here to communicate, not only by our lives, but supremely by our words. We are here to represent the Lord, and to show forth his goodness in the world. Here is a person who is very diligent in this. ‘I have a ministry of words,’ he says to himself, ‘a stewardship of words. Therefore, I have got to learn the Scripture. I have got to learn the arguments of evangelism. When I hear evangelistic preaching, I remember the arguments. When somebody is witnessing, I will remember how they go about it. I am going to learn the trade; I am going to learn to be an effective communicator.’ Such a person, says the parable, will be influential. But another Christian may have a good mind, may have many opportunities and advantages, but he is very careless at learning the word, learning the doctrines, learning the arguments of the faith. Such a person will have no influence, and in fact, like the person who becomes a slave on a forced labour gang in ancient times, that lazy person ends up at the mercy of others. The people around you outgun you in argument, they are too clever for you. You do not know how to parry and respond to the things they say. You do not know how to cope as your children grow up and become much more vocal, and go through the rebellious years. You are not equipped, you are at their mercy.

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Proverbs 12:24 Commentary and Bible Study