MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:24
THE REWARD OF DILIGENCE
I. What is here meant by diligence? It is not being always active, but active in the right direction—active in the right use of talents and opportunities. There is an activity that is worse than idleness, an activity that brings men into contempt and bondage instead of enabling them to rule themselves or others. Men may have great talent and keep it in constant exercise, and yet their diligent use of it may be destroying both themselves and others. A machine that is constructed to work in one direction may be very active in going in the opposite direction—this is worse than if it stood still, for it will certainly work injury to itself, and may do so to other things and to those who have to work it. A thief may be very diligent, but his diligent hand will not bring him to “bear rule.” It will probably, in the end, bring him into a most irksome servitude. There was once a Roman Emperor who was very active in catching flies; this was certainly not the diligence which would enable him to bear rule. If a man who is capable of a high and noble work spends his time in a childish and ignoble manner, he is not diligent although he may be very active. Diligence consists not in being very busy, but in being busy in what will build up our own moral nature and, as a necessity, bless our fellow-creatures. Moreover, diligence is not the right exercise of our talent or the wise use of our time at intervals, by fits and starts, but a constant and steady continuance of that exercise and activity.
II. The consequence of such diligence. He who is thus diligent will bear rule over the slothful man—over the man who wastes his time or his talent.
1. This is right. Even the slothful man himself must, in his conscience, feel that he deserves to be ruled by the diligent. The human conscience will not sanction such waste—such a destruction of character, and, while it is allowed to speak at all, will utter its testimony against it. And all impartial judges must concede that it is the just reward of diligence—that, when a man has rightly used that which the Great Ruler of the universe has committed to his trust, it is right that he should receive the award, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21).
2. It is necessary. First, for the slothful man himself. When he is under the rule of a diligent man he is doing better with his life than if he were left to himself; he is compelled to act, whether he will or not, and he has the guidance of the wisdom of another when his slothfulness has prevented him from gaining any of his own. His slothfulness grows greater, and therefore his guilt is increased every day that he is his own master. His powers will become more and more incapable of being exercised the longer they are unused, and the only thing that can save him from being entirely buried in the grave of his own sloth is that he become a servant to a diligent man. Secondly, for humanity in general. A slothful man in power is a curse to society. If he is a husband and father he is a curse to his children; if he is a master he is a curse to his servants, and will endanger their characters and industrious habits. Those who rule ought to be wise, and no slothful man can be a wise man.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
“Diligent;” from a root meaning to cut. Hence the idea of something incisive or decided. The primary idea is promptness or determination. “Sloth;” primarily remissness or what is indecisive. In this world, diligence puts a man at the head. In the eternal world, it will have made the man a king, and made all hell, and of course, all “sloth, under tribute” to him.—Miller.
This was Joseph’s road to bearing rule (chap. Proverbs 22:29). But if it does not raise in the world, it will command in its own sphere. The faithful steward is made ruler over his lord’s household (Matthew 24:45-47). The active trader bears rule over many cities (Ib. Proverbs 25:21). Diligence, therefore, is not a moral virtue separate from religion, but rather a component part of it.—Bridges.
The slothful are like Issachar, who saw that the rest was good, and bowed down his shoulder to bear, and became a servant to tribute; by their laziness they expose themselves to want, and reduce themselves to a slavish dependence on those who, through the blessing of God on their own diligence, or on that of their fathers, are in better circumstances. Spiritual sloth weakens men, and exposes them to the spiritual sloth of their spiritual enemies. We must be strong, resolute, and active, if we would escape the tyranny of the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:10-18).—Lawson.
The comparison is suggested by the contrast common in most ancient monarchies in the east, between the condition of a conquered race, compelled to pay heavy taxes in money or in kind (like the Canaanites in Israel, Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:30-33), and that of the freedom of their conquerors from such burdens. The proverb indicates that beyond all political divisions of this nature there lies an ethical law. The “slothful” descend inevitably to pauperism and servitude. The prominence of this compulsory labour under Solomon (1 Kings 9:21), gives a special significance to the illustration.—Plumptre.