Page 19 - Oct19

Plowing Provides Plenty Brother David Green

Proverbs 28:19 states, "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty
of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have pov-
erty enough."

Hard work is necessary and to be desired. The desire for abundance of wealth is not.
Nevertheless, through God’s ordained design, a plentiful provision of our needs is

most certain. In preface to attempting to unfold the meaning and application as deliv-
ered in this text in Psalms 28, let us observe that it is only natural, and in this context
correct, to understand this holy directive to be regarding our gain of such substance
that affords sufficient livelihood to some degree of abundance. But as in every case
where the blessings of corporeal advantage are provided to the Lord’s people, the

earthly supply is given to the child of God for heavenly growth and God’s glory. And
so, I pray we can explore and understand the same spiritual directive in this verse as
well.

Now, the scriptures do furnish examples and instruction that to be rich, very wealthy,
alone considered is not a sin. In fact, God at times, not typically, but nevertheless at
times grants it as a great blessing to his saints. We know Job was extremely wealthy
prior to his trials. And after losing all that he had, at the end of Job's trials the Lord

restored his material wealth to more than the original. Abraham had vast holdings of
land, provisions and servants. Christ's body was laid in the new tomb of Joseph "a
rich man of Arimathaea...who also himself was Jesus's disciple" (Matt. 27:57).

Solomon's wealth was unparalleled at that time and he was known almost as much
for his wealth as he was his wisdom. David, as King, naturally possessed the wealth
of a monarch.

However, David, whose riches were bestowed upon him virtually by God's appoint-

ment of him to the throne of Israel, declared the same ordained principle of our text
under consideration that "...the hand of the diligent maketh rich" and that same hand
"...shall bear rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute." Simply stated, God intends

to bless hard, honest work and not the opposite. And even though we all might read-
ily agree with this principle, I fear it is maybe easy for our nature to place too much
confidence and desire in wealth and plenty as well as to feel perhaps too safe and

continued