Proverbs 12:27 Commentary and Bible Study

The proverbs of the word of God are full of interest. On the one hand here is someone who has succeeded in a hunting expedition and come home with his prey. He and his family have cause to rejoice because there will be food on the table. But amazingly, although he has done the harder part and caught his prey and all that now remains is to cook it, he is too idle, too distracted, too disorganized to do the small amount of work necessary to complete the task. Perhaps he has caught wild game and it is hanging in the larder. But he leaves it there too long and eventually it is not fit to eat. The picture is of lost opportunity through idleness. There is no excuse for this idleness because a small amount of work would have brought a great gain. The diligent man in this proverb sees the task through to the end. As a result he is enriched in many areas of life. He may be enriched even in the affairs of this life, but certainly he will increase in the substance of the kingdom of heaven – knowledge, experience, character. We may apply this to the Christian who, having salvation for himself, fails to tell others the good news. Did God intend that he should escape the wrath to come and be indifferent to those who are still held captive by sin? Should a man who has obtained knowledge fail to teach it to others? (Hebrews 5:12). The weighty substance of a man of God is the product of his labours for the kingdom of heaven in the form of souls brought to salvation and enriched in the truth. It is found in the joy that awaits him in glory when the Lord says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’ (Matthew 25:21).