Labor and Wages

Proverbs 10:6
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.

I can't help it but to see two main words in this passage. Labor and wages. It reminds me that when I am laboring - working hard - I tend to keep my focus on what is important. Then there are times that I am just enjoying the income that comes from the laboring and it tends to get me in trouble if I don't have any vision. I am not saying that those who work really hard don't make a lot of money and that those who make a lot of money don't work very hard. I do have to say there has to be a balance. If money is the root of all evil, then we must be careful not to let it control us, our vision, our goals.

I looked up this verse in another translation and it added a little perspective that I would not have thought of by reading the translation above.

The New Living Translation reads:
The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,
but evil people squander their money on sin.

Reading this, I am tempted to add the point that when we are living godly lives, we tend to think harder about the consequences of our spending. When we earn money, it does not control us, but it adds or enriches our lives, because most of the time we are giving back, contributing to the needs of others, tithing, making wise purchases. Those who do not live godly lives tend to spend their money easily, without much thought.

Now, I am speaking from personal experience here. About 6 years ago, our lives were much different. We weren't wealthy by any means (not as Americans anyway), but we had our own business and could pretty much spend the money however we wanted. When my husband followed his calling to work with the youth ministries and later became a full time employee of the church, our income changed. He worked more hours, and made about 2/3 less than before. He literally worked a full work week at the church and two full days at our business, leaving him less than an entire 24 hour day off. He still does it to this day. Both of us agree that our lives are more enhanced now than the frivolous spending we were doing. We are compelled to spend our money differently as well. Now we find ourselves budgeting tithing, donations to worthy causes and saving up for purchases instead of going in debt to acquire what we want before actually being able to pay for it.

What a process.

Another way that God works in our lives to draw us near to him. It takes a lot more trust to work harder (labor) and trust God with our finances (wages) than it did to work less and spend freely. The rewards are greater though.

Dear Lord,
It really blows me away sometimes that we can open your Word and that it is still relevant today. Solomon was very wise in his day. I ask, Lord that you will give us wisdom and understanding of these verses this week. Please speak clarity into our lives. Thank you for loving us even when our lives are all backwards. I pray that you will touch our souls this week. That we will spring forth with new understanding (awareness) of your presence in our lives and that we will listen to you when you speak to our hearts.


Please pray for Diana B. This week.

Happy Birthday Sam.