Pro 28:19 | KingComments | STEP | In , there are two kinds of plenty ( ). There is plenty of food and poverty in plenty. “Have plenty of food” is the result of diligently doing your daily work, which is indicated here by “he who tills his land”. You don’t get your food by some miracle, but you have to work for it. If you do, you will have plenty of food. The second line of verse again begins with “but”, indicating that a contrast follows. Opposed to the diligent worker is one who “follows empty [pursuits]”. One who does such a thing shows what he himself is like. He does not do anything, but profits from others. Every now and then he has something to eat, but in the end he has “poverty in plenty”. He who tills his land has his lunchbox, table and stomach full of bread. He who follows empty pursuits has his lunchbox, table and stomach full of emptiness. The contrast is between the one who concentrates on his work, and the one who gets distracted and spends his time and energy on non-productive activities. Some relaxation and distraction are useful in their time, but too much of it leads to poverty, both material and spiritual. follows on from . The first line of verse talks about “a faithful man”, meaning, among other things, that he is diligent at work and faithful in it. He “will abound with blessings”. By contrast with the second line of verse, one of those numerous blessings seems to be that of sufficient income. He does not have to be eager to become rich; he is rich because of his faithfulness in his work. As a result, he is able to provide for his family. He is also able to give something away to the poor and, above all, to give God His share. He rejoices in God’s favor. Faithfulness determines success. Opposed to a trustworthy man is “he who makes haste to be rich”, also translated as “he who is eager to get rich”. Such a person uses dishonest means to do so. We can conclude this from the words “will not go unpunished”. The idea is that the first is faithful to his obligations to God and to other people. The second, one who aspires to become rich, is doing so without working diligently for it, but by using deception. By doing so, he not only loads riches on himself, but more importantly, guilt. He will have to pay for his deceit and misconduct ( ).

‏ Proverbs 28:19

Results of Diligence and Faithfulness

In Pro 28:19, there are two kinds of plenty (Pro 12:11). There is plenty of food and poverty in plenty. “Have plenty of food” is the result of diligently doing your daily work, which is indicated here by “he who tills his land”. You don’t get your food by some miracle, but you have to work for it. If you do, you will have plenty of food.

The second line of verse again begins with “but”, indicating that a contrast follows. Opposed to the diligent worker is one who “follows empty [pursuits]”. One who does such a thing shows what he himself is like. He does not do anything, but profits from others. Every now and then he has something to eat, but in the end he has “poverty in plenty”. He who tills his land has his lunchbox, table and stomach full of bread. He who follows empty pursuits has his lunchbox, table and stomach full of emptiness.

The contrast is between the one who concentrates on his work, and the one who gets distracted and spends his time and energy on non-productive activities. Some relaxation and distraction are useful in their time, but too much of it leads to poverty, both material and spiritual.

Pro 28:20 follows on from Pro 28:19. The first line of verse talks about “a faithful man”, meaning, among other things, that he is diligent at work and faithful in it. He “will abound with blessings”. By contrast with the second line of verse, one of those numerous blessings seems to be that of sufficient income. He does not have to be eager to become rich; he is rich because of his faithfulness in his work. As a result, he is able to provide for his family. He is also able to give something away to the poor and, above all, to give God His share. He rejoices in God’s favor. Faithfulness determines success.

Opposed to a trustworthy man is “he who makes haste to be rich”, also translated as “he who is eager to get rich”. Such a person uses dishonest means to do so. We can conclude this from the words “will not go unpunished”. The idea is that the first is faithful to his obligations to God and to other people. The second, one who aspires to become rich, is doing so without working diligently for it, but by using deception. By doing so, he not only loads riches on himself, but more importantly, guilt. He will have to pay for his deceit and misconduct (1Tim 6:9-10).