Proverbs 13:23 tells us, “Much food is in the tillage of the poor.” This verse reminds us that hard work always brings results. To see growth or success, we must be willing to put in the effort. But too often, people get distracted by other things and avoid the real work needed. Whether it’s in your career, calling, or any part of life, you need to “till the ground”—to invest time and energy. Without this effort, there can be no harvest, and the only thing left will be lack and poverty.
We must remember the words of Apostle Paul: “Whoever will not work, must not eat.” Poverty and lack often reflect a life of little or no productivity. Those who live a fruitful, productive life will generally have their needs met. But when a society is filled with people who are not interested in working or being productive—only seeking handouts or hoping for miraculous breakthroughs—we face a serious problem. The truth remains: you must till the ground. Without putting in the necessary work, there will be no food, no provision, and no progress.
Forget the fancy titles and status games. As the founder or CEO of your own company, how are you tilling the ground of your industry? As a director in a government agency, how are you solving problems and adding value to your organization? And how does that impact the wider society? If we, as creative and business-minded Christians, do not rise up and model a productive lifestyle, we cannot expect to see real change. It is through hard work and innovation that poverty can be challenged, and without it, it will continue to persist in our world.
