An Equal Opportunity

Much is said these days by politicians about our nation and it's ability to provide an equal opportunity for success to all. Not much is said about effort. Not much is said about hard work. Not much is said about taking risks and the possibility of failure. Is the Bible silent on this issue? Does God speak to the idea of hard work and success?

Our Daily Bible reading today includes some interesting teachings that deal with work and success. The sections that I am going to be focusing on are Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 12:11; 24:30-34. They all convey a consistent message.... let's study them together and see if we can gain some wisdom.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

The Proverb writer uses an illustration that people anywhere, any time can relate to. Who has not watched ants as they labor and admired their work ethic. I have never seen an ant take a break. I have never seen an ant carry a protest sign or stand on a picket line. I have never seen an ant union. Maybe there are lazy ants... but I have never seen one. The writer tells us that the ant works when it is time to work without being told to work. The ant doesn't need a boss or a job description. The ant just works hard every day to prepare for the times of need.

God tells us that we need to be like the ant. He calls us from laziness and calls us to hard work. He warns us that sitting around will end in poverty. Success is not guaranteed. Sometimes the ant works hard, stores up for the winter and a storm washes it all away. Sometimes it's nature, other times it's a predator and sometimes it is poor planning. Success is not guaranteed for the ant, but what is guaranteed for the ant is failure if it doesn't work hard and so the ant works.

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Proverbs 10:4-5)

The writer gives us a contrast between those that are "slack" and those that work diligently. Slackness.... Poverty. Diligence.... Riches. He tells us that if we work when we are supposed to, we are "prudent" and if we lay in the bed, we suffer shame. Hard work, diligent work is held up as something to take pride in, while laziness is something that we should feel ashamed of.

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11)

The Proverb writer is giving us advice on what we go after, what we pursue. You need food, work your garden and you will be fed. He tells us that "our dreams" can lead to worthless ends. He is encouraging us to to not only work hard, but also work smart. Some pursuits are worthless! We might even work hard in a pursuit; but if that pursuit is selling ice to Eskimos... don't expect success. We are to spend our time and effort on things that have proven to give a harvest or he says that we "lack sense". Success is not guaranteed, but it will surely be more likely when we work the land that we know.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24: 30-34)

Next the Proverb writer gives us insight from his stroll down the street by a neighbor's house. This is the house of a lazy person that doesn't use good judgement. He owns a vineyard and a field. He owns a home and it has a stone wall around it. By most standards, this is a wealthy person, a successful person. Maybe he was a hard worker at one time or maybe he inherited the farm.... I don't know, but this we know for sure, he will not own it long. He is lazy and doesn't look after what was placed in his care. The writer tells us that as he looked at his neighbors "mess", he received instruction and that instruction is this....A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

He tells us that the outcome of our laziness is surely poverty and want. He tells us that laying down on the job will end in failure. What was once a beautiful vineyard with at lovely stone wall around it has become weeds and rubble. He hasn't cared for the vines, he hasn't maintained the stone wall, so what once provided food and security now produces nothing and allows predators to come in and destroy. We are told that our hard work pays off and that laziness will surely end in poverty. Over and over, the message is the same. God expects His people, His followers to work and work smart. He expects us to care for what we are blessed with and use it for His glory.

We live in a nation that provides opportunity for all. I know of many examples of people coming to this country with nothing and through hard work and determination, they achieve great success. I know of many that were born here and grew up with a sense of entitlement that led them to sit down and expect success to come to them. When it didn't, they demanded a different result. You see, they didn't want and equal opportunity, they wanted an equal result. It doesn't work that way, God says... get up, get a job, go to work and work hard. He will honor your efforts. Success is not guaranteed through hard work, but my witness is that it comes to those that work hard. This I am sure of, the other side of the coin is certain... sit around, do nothing, wait for success to find you and you will find failure in this life.

The next pretty day that comes along, go outside, find an ant hill and sit down and get some instruction. Watch the ants working, looking after their home; carrying food for the family. Learn from the ant! Next, walk by your lazy neighbors house and see the paint peeling, look at the yard and check out his garden and get some instruction. Then go to the home of the neighbor that works hard. I don't care if it is a big house or a little one, the hard workers house will bring him or her honor. It will be cared for, the yard will be mowed, the paint will be fresh and the garden will be green. In this nation, success is not guaranteed, but the opportunity is there and God expects us to work in such a way that brings Him honor and us dignity. Now get off your computer and go get to work. :-)