What is the meaning of Proverbs 21:5? The plans • Scripture treats planning as a wise, God-honoring activity. Proverbs 16:3 urges, “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established,” linking careful thought with divine blessing. • Jesus endorsed forethought when He asked, “Which of you wishing to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost…?” (Luke 14:28). Genuine faith never excuses impulsiveness; it reasons, researches, and prays before acting. Of the diligent • Diligence is steady, persistent effort, the opposite of laziness. Proverbs 12:24 notes, “The hand of the diligent will rule,” and 10:4 adds, “Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” • New-covenant believers hear the same call: “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). God values industry because it reflects His own faithful character. Bring plenty • “Plenty” in Proverbs 21:5 is literal—adequate provision, surplus, the ability to share. When we plan and labor under God’s direction we often enjoy tangible reward: “Honor the LORD… then your barns will be filled with plenty” (Proverbs 3:9-10). • Generosity grows out of that abundance: “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25). Careful planning + hard work = resources to bless family, church, and needy neighbors. As surely as • The phrase signals a fixed principle, as dependable as gravity. Galatians 6:7 echoes it: “Whatever a man sows, he will reap.” Sow diligence, reap plenty; sow haste, reap want. God woven cause-and-effect into daily life. Haste • Haste means rash, shortcut-seeking action. Proverbs 19:2 warns, “He who hurries his footsteps misses the mark,” while 28:20 cautions that the one “eager to be rich will not go unpunished.” • Common forms of haste today: – Jumping into debt without counting cost – Get-rich-quick schemes and speculative gambling – Skipping training, mentorship, or prayer because “time is money” Leads to poverty • Proverbs paints poverty as an almost inevitable harvest for the hasty: “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will overtake him” (28:22). • Quick, dishonest gain evaporates: “Dishonest wealth will dwindle” (13:11). Even sudden windfalls disappoint when character is unformed: “An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end” (20:21). • Pleasure-driven haste drains resources: “He who loves pleasure will become poor” (21:17). summary Proverbs 21:5 offers a clear, time-tested equation. Thoughtful planning joined to steady, diligent effort brings God’s normal provision—and often abundance. Conversely, impatience and shortcut chasing drain resources and invite lack. The verse invites believers to mirror God’s own orderly, purposeful work: think ahead, labor faithfully, wait patiently, and enjoy His promised plenty. |
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