He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4).
In the coming weeks, we’ll chat about King Solomon and his smart business ideas. Why? Because I’ve been really into them and think it’s a shame we don’t talk about them more often. So, guess what? Now, I’ll teach you all about them.
If you’re not into business stuff, no big deal! Just kidding. Even if you’re not a business fan, these principles are handy for all aspects of life. They help with money, choosing jobs, deciding what to do, and how to do it.
You might be thinking, “Dan, I’m retired, or I’m a stay-at-home mom or dad.” That’s cool; you can still apply these principles in your daily life. So, let’s begin with some straightforward facts about Solomon.
Firstly, he was famous for being very wise. In 1 Kings, he made a sacrifice to God, and later, God appeared to him in a dream. God asked Solomon what he wanted, and Solomon could have asked for anything like money, power, land, or riches.
However, instead of choosing any of those things, he asked for wisdom. God was pleased with this choice and personally responded to Solomon’s request. God promised him great wisdom because he didn’t ask for things that would only benefit himself, like a long life or the defeat of his enemies.
One famous story showcasing Solomon’s wisdom is the Judgment of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-28). Two women claimed to be the mothers of the same child. Solomon cleverly resolved the dispute by suggesting cutting the child in half and sharing it between the two women.
One of the women quickly gave up her claim, showing that she would rather let the child live than see it harmed. Solomon decided that the woman displaying compassion was the real mother and should have the entire child.
Solomon was thought to have written various parts of the Bible, like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. There’s also an extra book called The Wisdom of Solomon (not in the Bible). But let’s not get too caught up in his qualifications; instead, let’s explore what he taught!
Excited? I am! Solomon had 10 simple rules he followed. The first one is to work hard and be diligent. Proverbs 10:4 says, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Hard work is irreplaceable. Some might see successful business owners and think it’s easy, but those in the know understand that building and running a successful business demands more effort than any other way to make a living.
Supporting a family brings a lot of worries. What if things go wrong? What if I fail? These thoughts are not for those who aren’t deeply committed to their work. As Solomon said in Proverbs 20:4, a lazy person won’t work in winter and will beg during harvest, ending up with nothing. While hard work is crucial, it’s not the only thing.
Some believe success comes from working harder, but the reality is you don’t have to work hard; you need to work smart. It might take a bit of adjustment to get used to this idea.
I grew up in a family that believed in hard work. My dad left for work early before any of us kids were up, and on some nights (though not many), he came back home well after dark.
After work, he would go and milk cows and do other chores before fully coming home to spend time with the family. I appreciate that my dad worked hard, and my mom worked even harder to make sure we kids didn’t cause chaos before he returned. LOL
It doesn’t mean it’s the only way to earn a living or support your family. As a business owner, I understand that well. Working long hours and not knowing when to stop. When we dive deep into a subject we’re passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work anymore.
Take Nathen, our son, for example. Nathen enjoys watching TV. It might not sound great, and you might be judging us as parents. But I don’t care about your opinion because you don’t know the whole situation.
Anyway, Nathen is a great kid. There was a time when he wanted to be a ventriloquist. Naturally, he immersed himself in learning about it by watching many videos on how to do it.
Then he practiced, and practiced, and practiced more, constantly improving his technique. My point is that when Nathen gets interested in something, he spends tons of time learning about it, doing it, and then performing it.
He eventually realized that he didn’t love ventriloquism but discovered that he loved making people laugh. My point with this whole story is that when we start something new, we get excited, work hard, and learn tons about the subject.
It’s a good thing; at least that’s what Solomon said. So, my encouragement for you today is to take action on your work ethic.
Recall a project you began. Did you finish it? (If you’re like me, maybe not. I tend to start projects, get them to work, and let them be instead of perfecting them.) If you did finish, what motivated you to persist until completion?
What did you discover from that project? Is there anything you could change to make it simpler? Next time you start a project, what steps will you take to ensure you finish it or at least get it to the “it’s working” stage?
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