Proverbs 13:11 Commentary and Bible Study

The word ‘vanity’ covers all the ways in which men seek to obtain wealth other than through legitimate means: the use of honest and diligent work. The first man described in the proverb may be work shy. He is constantly looking for short cuts that avoid the need to get down to work. In the context of the previous illustration of the son being trained by his father on the family smallholding, he perhaps thinks if he sells off part of the farm, that will bring in enough money to live comfortably without having to go out into the fields and plough and sow and harvest. But his neighbour thinks differently and is always seen to be busy in some project and happy to be out working under the heat of the sun. We might apply this illustration to the church in our day. One church hears of the large numbers that have been brought in by other groups through the use of music and drama, and immediately they want to do the same. They find the use of Sunday Schools run over many years and requiring constant effort by many church members with little obvious immediate results to be too much trouble. Is there some gimmick that they can latch on to which offers instant success? Then they will go for that. In the personal Christian life, a similar phenomenon may be seen. Here is one who does not want to engage in daily Bible study and prayer. He needs a spiritual boost, so he signs up for a weekend retreat with a group offering revitalisation of the spiritual life. But God has appointed the constant diligent use of disciplines in the Christian life to be the most effective method of advance.