Mensa Otabil - Diligent Hands
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We’ve been talking about the hands we need to have: clean hands, trained hands, working hands. Today, we’re discussing the diligent hand from Proverbs 12:24. The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor. A diligent hand is a working hand, but it’s a bit more than just a working hand. The word diligent, as used in the text, means to be sharp or focused. This means intelligent and focused work; it’s not just any kind of work from our hands that rules, but intelligent and focused work.
God wants us to work with intelligence, which means we have to think through what we do. The work of our hands is not just manual labor but intelligent labor. It’s mindful labor, well-considered, appropriate, and offers solutions that are well-tailored. God blesses the diligent hand. A diligent hand is also a joyful hand, meaning someone who uses their hands or works with intelligence and focus but is also joyful. In other words, you enjoy what you do; you don’t hate it or detest it. It is that hand that the Bible says will rule.
I want you to see the contrast that the passage makes about these two: the diligent hand will rule, and the lazy man will be put to forced labor. The scripture states that one hand rules, while the other is put to forced labor. The word rule means to have dominion, to be on top, to be in control, to be in charge. If a person is intelligent and focused in the work of their hands, they will be in charge; they will be on top; they will become a captain and leaders. However, if a person is lazy, their hand is lazy, they don’t focus their work, and they are not diligent, then they will be forced to work.
Now, observe the contrast: one enjoys their work, while the other is forced to work. Laziness or a lack of focus in our work makes us merely employed to do things we hate. If you want to enjoy your life, then the Bible states your hand must be diligent; you must be committed to working intelligently and focused. This way, you don’t wake up in the morning doing something you hate for eight or nine hours. Instead, you should wake up, go to work, and do something you love. That hand is the diligent hand.
So when you discover what God wants you to do, when you find God’s purpose for your life, ask Him to help your hands be diligent in it. When you are committed to something, commit to it intelligently. When you’re committed, focus your energy on it. When you’re committed, love what you’re doing, and ask God to give you something that you will truly love doing—not something that you hate but have to do because it provides a living wage.
May the Lord bless your hands with diligence and grant you the ability to work with diligence, focus, and intelligence so that you will emerge as the head in the position that God has given you. Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me to be diligent in my work. I commit to joyfully do what you have called me to do. In Jesus' name, amen.» Well, I’ll be with you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.