Today's Verse: Proverbs 19:15

Sunday, October 3, 1999

Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I was raised in a family with three boys. Dad had a theory: A certain amount of testosterone had to be burned off by each boy every day. If it weren't burned off daily, the house would quickly become unlivable, so he always had hard work for us to do outside. Dad didn't have to memorize Proverbs 19:15 - it was embedded in his DNA! Growing up, I didn't appreciate the importance of hard work. They didn't call it "hard" in our neck of the woods by accident! In those boyhood years, I would have been content to be a lollygagger (in "Cornbread English," that's what Solomon's ol' lazy, "shiftless man") without my dad's imposed work requirements as a boy. As I've grown older, I've found that working hard with my hands has many redeeming qualities, while being a lollygagger has NONE. Lollygagging should never be confused with genuine rest to honor God and help us prepare to do a week of hard work!

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, God over all things, please teach me the balance between work and rest. Help me to balance both so that I can bring you honor and display your gracious rule over my heart and my time. Help me be productive, hard-working, and honorable. In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 19:15 — Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, October 3, 1999

A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"[After Jesus told the disciples they couldn't come where he was going,] Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus replied, "You..."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"[When the idol makers realized that Paul's message against idolatry was hurting their business,] their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great...."
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the..."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. [Lord] You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of...."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.