Diligence Leads to Abundance?

My reflection on being diligent.

“The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance; but all who rush in arrive only at want.” (Proverb 21:5 CJB)

When I first read this scripture I thought ‘Whatever! I was diligent when I work night and day at that job and was still barely making it. I was diligent in my giving.’ But the more I studied Proverbs the more I evaluated my life and the choices I made. Then I realized I was wrong in my thinking.

Just like more people I dreamt of wealth. I worked hard day and night for pennies on the dollar. I managed my money well, but when there is not much coming in what do you do. I tried to do what the church taught me to do. I sowed my time in volunteer work. I gave my tithes and offerings. I sowed monetary seeds during church services for abundance like the preacher said. I tried to speak into existence abundance. I even stood on my porch to call money to come to my home. I spoke those things that be not as though they were. I kept confessing until I couldn’t confess anymore. I stood in the $1,000 offering lines, the $500 offering lines, and the $20 offering lines. I gave to the preacher, to the building fund, to the special offerings promising freedom from debt and supernatural increase.

After way too years of doing all of this I found myself bankrupted and with no home. So what did I do wrong? I thought I did everything I was supposed to do. When I asked what I was doing wrong the answer went something like this: because you are in sin. Yes, my lifestyle would be considered a sinful life. But I was taught that if you sow corn you can’t expect beans to sprout up. Therefore, if I sow money then I should expect a financial blessing.

Besides that there were way too many people who did not honor God and who were filthy rich, not just rich, but filthy rich. Their dog’s lifestyle cost more than my whole family’s did. What was the answer for that? None.

My Search for Financial Truth

So I started studying my scriptures again outside of church service. (Once, I got to church I stopped studying like I used to. I relied on the man of God to teach me like most people do.) Then I started taking notice of what was going on around me. What I saw brought me to shame.

It brought me to shame because I realized most of what was going on was not scriptural. All I had to do was pick up the Bible and read it to know the truth. I may have been diligent, but I was diligent in the work things. I should have been diligent in building a business instead of giving all of my money away on nonsense. (I’m not referring to my regular tithes.)

The scriptures make it very clear that only those who work will profit because all work is profitable. If the work I was doing was not profitable then I should have chosen differently. I should not have allowed people to use my gifts (skills) without proper pay. The scripture says those with a skill will succeed. If I was not succeeding then it was my fault.

I should have been diligent in sticking to one thing instead of rushing here and there trying to make a quick buck. I should not have rushed to do the latest multilevel marketing business that the church was involved in because by the time I got involved all those who were going to make any money had already made their money. I was left wanting like the scripture says.

Proverbs gave me a lot to think about. I did a lot of free work, but those days are over for me. I will only give away a tenth of free work now – only because I enjoy helping people as much as I can.

Now my journey begins. I am learning to make better decisions and to forgive myself for making wrong ones. I am back to studying for myself and asking God to teach me his ways of handling finances. Proverbs has become my road map. I know with this plan in place my diligence will bring abundance.

This was my experience. Everyone is different and some even have wonderful testimonies to tell.

Prayer Time

Our Heavenly Father, who is in heaven,
Help to walk diligently in your word, while solidifying my plan to move forward and not backwards.
In Yeshua the Messiah’s name, Amen.

Scripture Reference

“The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance; but all who rush in arrive only at want.” (Proverb 21:5 CJB)

“He who has skill in a matter will succeed; he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.” (Prov. 16:20 CJB)

“Prepare your outside work, and get things ready for yourself on the land; after that, build your house.” (Prov. 24:27)