A worker's appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on. Proverbs 16:26

Did you know that the Bible does not support the idea of a welfare state? There is plenty in the Scriptures that support giving to help out the poor and disadvantaged. But the idea of providing a living for someone without them having to work - especially when they are able to work - is foreign to the Bible.

God's Word encourages us to work - and to work hard. Beginning with God encouraging man to work the garden - prior to the fall - and continuing through the New Testament where Paul tells us that if a man will not work, not to let him eat - God is adamant about people giving themselves to worthwhile endeavors in life. We've seen several verses already that rebuke the sluggard and warn him to apply himself to work hard. God also encourages us to enjoy our work in the book of Ecclesiastes.

God's Word states that a "do nothing" mindset will destroy a man's character - and eventually his life. Welfare will eventually create not just a sluggard, but a person who feels that they are entitled to getting things without working. This entitlement attitude will not just destroy an individual - it can destroy entire economies and states. When the state either cuts off these entitlements or even downgrades them in size - the lazy rise up and riot because they have grown to expect something for nothing.

The whole idea of incentive and hunger is necessary for a society to have a good work ethic. The incentive causes the worker to become more dependable and productive. He works harder and better and in the process not only blesses himself - but his company and even his entire nation. The hunger for food is one way that this is seen - and the hunger for even better things can be a continued way this is beneficial. First we work so that we can feed ourselves and our families. Over time our families are fed, but we want even better things for them. This comes not out of greed, but out of a true desire to bless our families - even beyond the scope of our lives. The incentive to see our children have a better life is a good thing.

Our society is falling apart because it has ignored these things. We have begun to adopt a mindset toward socialism - where the government takes care of all the people. God did not intend for this to be the case. He meant for men to care for their families - and for the state to only have a limited role in governing our lives. The family is the basic unit of society - and the place where values and work ethic is to be taught and encouraged. Even with our children we are to use incentive to help them see the need to work and to labor. When a child is spoiled by his parents - that child is given everything they want - without having to work for what they receive. The child does not appreciate these things - and even has resentment when the parent either cannot or will not provide something they demand. The child never learns a solid work ethic - which damages them for life. They don't work hard - get fired from multiple jobs - which they always equate to a problem with the employer. The problems they have even enter into their marriage and family - because they are unwilling to work and do what is necessary to bless a family. Everything is about them and what they want. Thus they destroy not just their own lives - but in time multiple generations which follow in their footsteps.

The incentive and drive to work - and work hard is a matter of godliness in the end. It is encouraged by God granting to us an appetite - and a hunger for food. If we are coddled and protected from hunger and need. If we are given everything and never made to work for what is necessary. If we are spoiled as children - and even as adults - we are headed for a disastrous end. The older we get, the more selfless we should become. The selfishness of a little child is not to be encouraged - but worked out of them. If this is not done - not even their hunger can get them to engage in profitable work. When multiplied over the face of a region - and even a nation - this will lead to the fall of that nation. Let your hunger and your thirst be a motivation to work hard - and to encourage others to do the same. It may seem hard at first - but you will see the wisdom of God's Word in encouraging work and labor as a way to bless ourselves and others around us.

The wicked man desires the booty of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit. Proverbs 12:12

Two ways of living and two ways of getting gain are presented to us in this verse.  One chooses to profit from the misery of others - from catching and snaring them.  The other profits because the very root of how he lives his life is productive and bears fruit.  Let's take a look at these two "ways of living" and see that by embracing one we will gain much wisdom.

First we are introducted to the wicked man.  He seeks to profit from his evil devices.  He always has a con going - always has a plan or a scheme whereby he will get the money he wants.  It is interesting the word that is used here for "booty" or "spoil."  it is the Hebrew word "matsod" and it refers to a hunting implement - most often a net or a snare.  Thus, the wicked man is said to desire the net or snare of evil men.  He delights in and takes pleasure in what an evil man gains from an ensnared person.  The wicked man sets the snare - he baits the net and waits for the unwitting fool to step into it.  Once caught - that person becomes the gain for the wicked.  He has nothing profitable himself to offer - just a life filled with another wicked plan or another snare laid out for the unsuspecting one who steps into it. 

The righteous to the contrary, leads a life that is profitable in itself.  He has a root that bears fruit of its own.  He sees no need of setting traps for others - wanting to take what is not his own for his profit. He is engaged in some godly trade that meets the needs of others - rather than wicked pursuits where he is only seeking to exploit the weaknesses of others for the purpose of fleecing them.  His desire is to bless and build up - and from such endeavors to produce fruit. 

These two men have very different pursuits, concerns, and ends from what they seek in life.  The wicked man is pursuing profiting from other's misfortunes - while the righteous man wants to bless them.  The wicked man is concerned that he may be caught and exposed as he sets traps and snares.  He has to use camouflage to hide the true intentions of his plans from those who see him.  He is also cautious because the majority of the time his path is contrary to the laws of men.  If caught he will be punished - something he definitely seeks to avoid.  The righteous man does not have to worry about what he is doing.  His concern is to bless others in the end.  He therefore is concerned about the needs of others - what it is they truly need or want.  He then gives himself to meeting those needs - and profiting from it thereby.  If, in the end, they want something harmful to themselves, he will not exploit their flesh.  That would not be producing fruit, but pain, suffering, and in the end, ungodliness (which will never truly bless anyone).  His concern therefore is matching the will of God with the way that he plants and cultivates things in his life.  This will always produce fruit that will last more than just a moment - it is the kind of fruit that lasts for eternity.  The end of these two men is much different too.  The wicked man is cursed by those he has trapped and netted.  They hate him for what he has done.  There is also no long term blessing for this man because the things he does are conrary to God's will.  In the end, God will curse him and bring punishment upon him.  The righteous man, though, is blessed now and for eternity.  Though his work may be harder and not as instantly productive - it will last.  Men will bless him and love him for what he does, and when it comes to eternity - he will receive blessing not just from men, but most importantly - from God. 

Two men, two very different paths, and two eternally different ends.  That is what we see in this passage.  God will bless the root of the righteous by having it bear the good fruit that is seeks.  But the wicked man whose life is snares and traps - will be watching behind him all throughout life - and will be paying for his wickedness because his root is dried up and dead.  Just as his root - so will be his fruit.  

The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. Proverbs 20:4

Planning and preparation for the future provision is something that God encourages.  Here we read about the sluggard and lazy man again.  We read about how he does not want to work when he should be working.  In the autumn a good farmer should be plowing so that he is ready to put in a crop.  The sluggard does not want to plow - because he cannot see past the nose on his face when it comes to the future.  Instead the sluggard has many more important things he thinks he needs to be doing.  Most likely these things are play rather than work.  So he applies himself to his own lazy pursuits and pays for it dearly in the end.

We read that when the harvest comes, the sluggard is begging for food.  He has nothing because he has done nothing.  While those who have planned and worked hard reap the fruits of their labor, the sluggard is looking at the big pile of nothing his laziness has provided for him.  He is out begging - and playing the poor, pitiful me card. 

I'm about to say something that needs to be said in our society.  There are two kinds of needy people in the world today.  There are the truly needy who have fallen on hard times.  They are willing to work and desire to do the right thing - but for reasons beyond their control either health or other factors have put them in need.  These people deserve our help and support through their difficult times.  We want to offer them a hand up - because that is what they truly want - a hand up - as they regain their footing.  They do not want a hand out - because their desire in the end is to be working and being self-sufficient once again.  The second kind of needy person is the sluggard.  He is the one who is needy because of his own lack of character and neglect.  He does not work hard - he doesn't want to work at all.  He is lazy and preoccupied with his leisure and desire for others to provide for him.  To help this man is to hurt him in the end.  What this man needs is to experience hunger and true desperation.  He will cry out that others who are diligent and hard working have an unfair advantage.  He will cry out that they get all the breaks - while he gets nothing.  He will cry out that what government should do is tax and take from the diligent and give to those less fortunate.  The problem is his "less-fortunate-ness" is his own doing - or lack of doing as this verse points out.  To reward him with provision is to simply encourage him to continue in his laziness.  What the sluggard needs is not a hand out - but a hand upside his head.  He needs a serious reality check - and some hard knocks that will shake him out of his lethargy. 

Scripture never begrudges providing for the truly poor and needy.  But the same Bible that speaks of giving to the poor - also warns us that some of the poor are that way by slothful choice.  These are the ones who need more than just some help financially - they need a serious fundamental moral change when it comes to their work ethic.  When we offer them THAT help - we are truly helping them where their need is greatest.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat. Proverbs 13:4

The sluggard is always wanting and never getting.  His life is a series of desires and cravings for everything under the sun.  He craves and speaks of all the things he wants - but does nothing to actually obtain them.  If someone gives them to him he is happy for a moment or two.  That happiness is soon replaced with another craving, though, and he returns to his world of constantly wanting something else.  In all his wanting though, he never lifts himself up to the level of work and labor.  These things would open his life up to actually seeing things happen.  He is lazy and undisciplined and therefore he never attains to things.  The proverb tells us that he gets nothing.  His hands are always empty - first they are empty of work and labor - and in the end they are empty of any real productivity and products.  He is a sad soul - doubly empty.

The soul of the diligent man is fat.  He works hard and labors diligently at the things he wants.  He allows desire to prod him to work and labor.  Thus his desires and wants become more than just a craving that taunts him.  He uses those desires to spur him to action - first action of the mind - and then action of life.  He works hard - and at the end of the day has something to show for it.  If not his actual goals - he has the satisfaction that he is one day closer to seeing them realized.  Along the way his soul gets fatter.  His mind is filled with thought of how to do things better, quicker, with greater quality and skill.  Along the way his will is set to do what is before him.  Along the way his emotions are kept in check - not dominating his life with unmet cravings and the whirlwhind of emotions they bring - but with excitment about what is coming as his work yields true rewards.  Even before he gets what he is working for - his soul remains fat with the good things that come from hard work and industry. 

One craves and is wracked by the unmet cries of his cravings.  He is starving to death physically, emotionally, and mentally as he has nothing to show for doing nothing.  The other is working toward something good - and all along the way good comes to him.  It is far better to be working toward something than to be only craving what you will never get.