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Meaningful Hard Work

Proverbs 12:11 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹¹He who works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless things is in want of heart.

He who works his land will have plenty of bread: Here works (Heb. abad) his land is referring to preparing the land for raising crops by plowing or cultivating. However, here it has a more basic sense of work or labor where one expends considerable energy and intensity in a task or function. Like in 12:9 bread (Heb. lechem) is representative of life’s necessities, so having plenty of bread is saying that one who works hard will have plenty of life’s basic necessities, he will never be penniless.

but he who follows worthless things is in want of heart: One who follows worthless things (reqim) is a reference to one who gives his time, labor and energy to things that are useless. There is no value, no advantage to these worthless pursuits. This person is in want of heart, as Solomon expresses it. The Hebrew (chaser leb) is rendered (interpreted) as “lacks sense” in other translations. (ESV, LEB, CSB, and NASB) This foolish person is lacking good sense and wisdom, lacking good judgment or discernment as to the worthless things that he pursues in his life.

Drawing upon yet another aspect of agricultural life, working the land, Solomon stresses that meaningful hard work will cause us to reap benefits. However, the one who is lacking good judgment or understanding (in want of heart) spends most of his time in pursuit of worthless, idle, speculative things which have no value or advantage. The lessons in Proverbs 12:10-11 are clear: Be compassionate and hardworking.

This verse teaches us that hard work and diligence are rewarded.

The word “works” in this verse refers to labor or toil. The word “land” in this verse refers to a piece of property that is used for farming. The word “plenty” in this verse refers to a large amount. The word “bread” in this verse refers to a staple food made from wheat or other grains. The word “worthless” in this verse refers to something that is of little value. The word “heart” in this verse refers to the center of our being, including our thoughts, feelings, and desires. This verse teaches us that hard work and diligence are rewarded.

Here are some ways that we can apply this verse to our Christian living:

Be diligent in our work. We should not be lazy or apathetic. We should work hard and be productive.
Be focused on our goals. We should not be distracted by worthless things. We should focus on our goals and work towards achieving them.
Be content with what we have. We should not be greedy or materialistic. We should be content with what we have and be grateful for our blessings.

Challenge:

This week, I challenge you to be diligent in your work. Be focused on your goals and be content with what you have.

Additional thoughts:

The verse specifically mentions that he who works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless things is in want of heart. This is a reminder that hard work and diligence are rewarded. When we work hard, we are more likely to be successful. We are also more likely to be content with what we have.
The verse also teaches us that it is important to be focused on our goals. When we are focused on our goals, we are more likely to achieve them. We are also less likely to be distracted by worthless things.
Finally, the verse teaches us that it is important to be content with what we have. When we are content with what we have, we are more likely to be happy. We are also less likely to be greedy or materialistic.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).