Young People's Group

The Hand of the Diligent

by Mitchell Tan
March 25, 2021

GOING TO AN ANT MUSEUM

A group of teens responded to last week’s encouragement to “Go to the ant, you sluggard!” They decided to go to an ant museum that is situated very near our church building. They were excited about going for this “field trip” and to observe these hardworking ants in their “natural” habitat. We hope that they had a meaningful time considering how diligent the ants are. May this inspire them to be hardworking as students too.

THE SLACK HAND OF A FOOLISH SON

“He who has a slack hand becomes poor …
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”
Proverbs 10:4, 5

King Solomon wrote further about the problem of laziness and the need for diligence.

1. THE PERSON WITH A SLACK HAND

He is considered one who is idle and will always find ways and means to excuse himself from work. He likes to take things easy all the time. He slacks off and sleeps when he is supposed to work during the harvest. He does not consider about his future.

2. CONSEQUENCES

The future state of the person with a slack hand is that he will become poor. He will end up with poverty in life. It is his foolishness that causes him to be lazy. He would be considered a foolish son that causes shame to his family. He will bring grief to his mother (Proverbs 10:1).

THE DILIGENT HAND OF A WISE SON

“But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a wise son”
Proverbs 10:4-5

1. THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT

The hand of the diligent is not afraid of being committed to hard work. He consistently seeks to be industrious in all that he does. He will be faithful to the responsibility given to him. He will gather much during the harvest so that he will have more than enough for winter. He will even take what is excess and sell it to others.

2. RAMIFICATIONS

The future state of his life is that he will be blessed by the Lord with riches. It is his wisdom that causes him to be diligent. He will be considered by all as a wise son. He brings gladness to his father (Proverbs 10:1). Being wise and diligent as sons can bring much joy to ourselves and to our parents.

LEARN TO BE WISE BY CULTIVATING DILIGENCE

The choice is up to us. We can either be foolish by having a slack hand or we can be wise by choosing to the diligent. Even as many of you start your second term in school, learn to be wise by being diligent in your work. Don’t wait until the last minute to study for the mid-year exams. Cultivating diligence begins now. The wise student will work hard and start preparing early. Let’s learn to have the hand of the diligent. Let’s pray for wisdom to cultivate diligence and for His grace to enable us. The Lord will bless us for the future when we do our part.

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