Man's Precious Possession

"The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man's precious possession."

Proverbs 12:27

What incredible, divine insight this verse provides!  I imagine if most people were given three chances to name a precious possession of mankind, diligence would not even be a consideration.  Health, wealth, security, love, friends, peace and prosperity would likely be chosen over plodding, dull and monotonous diligence.  God created mankind in His own image, that we would have a mind not only to start tasks but to see them to completion.

The verse begins by saying, "The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting."  We must understand the "lazy man" identified here would likely be seen by others as a go-getter and a dedicated worker.  In Solomon's day (and to this day) people hunted primarily to obtain food for themselves and their family.  Hunting required waking early and sometimes travelling great distances to scout and track prey.  It meant making or buying weapons, sharpening arrows and blades, developing skill to use them effectively, and physical exertion to chase and kill an animal.  After an animal was killed, it needed to be skinned and dressed before cooking.  Imagine being hungry and deciding to go hunting, to wake up and rise before dawn, endure the elements, to find and kill prey--and then stop short of roasting and eating!  Neglect to roast the meat sourced during a hunt undermined the primary purpose for hunting in the first place.

In contrast to the lazy man who does not roast what he took in hunting, the diligent man sees the task done from start to finish.  Diligence is man's precious possession, for such a one endures the hunt and concludes with food for himself and his family.  Proverbs 13:4 says, "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."  The difference between the lazy and the diligent is the diligent puts forth constructive effort that accomplishes much.  The diligent implements their plans and sees them through as it says in Proverbs 21:5:  "The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty."  The hasty and lazy may put forth strong effort, but because they do not have a plan brought to completion they end up lacking and losing.

Diligence is man's precious possession.  It is a good thing to consider personally:  what am I hunting for?  Do I have plans I began to implement but have left unfinished?  God has given us the precious possession of beginning beneficial tasks we can bring to completion through His wisdom, guidance and strength.  Day by day, step by step, faithfulness to labour in what is good will provide great rewards that eclipse the enjoyable satisfaction of a job well-done, for our souls and character are greatly enriched in the process by faith and obedience to our LORD.