Bridges on Proverbs 21:5
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:5
 
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5.  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
 
The diligent is usually contrasted with the slothful: here with the hasty. The thoughts of each work their own fruit, for plenteousness, or for want. The patient, plodding man of industry perseveres in spite of all difficulties; content to increase his substance by degrees; never relaxing, never yielding to discouragement. This care of diligence is profitable under the blessing of God. (Chapter 10:22.) ‘Thou mayest as well expect’ (says an old writer) ‘riches to rain down from heaven in silver showers, as to provide for thy family without industry in thy calling.’ Haste may have much of diligence in the temperament. But as indolence is its defect, this is its excess, its undisciplined impulse. The hand too often goes before, and acts without the judgment. Hence our English philosopher wisely counsels us — ‘not to measure dispatch by the times of sitting, but by the advancement of the business.’ A wise man had it for a bye-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion — ‘Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner. To choose time is to save time, and an unreasonable motion is but “beating the air.”’
The evil of haste under a worldly impulse is truly fearful. Often does it drive the man into rash projects; and high-raised delusive expectations he finds to be the short and sure road to want. Need we remark, how rich the harvest of Christian diligence, of “patient perseverance in well-doing” — “eternal life”? The heavenly race is not to be run by so many heats, but by a steady course. “Run,” not with haste or speed, but “with patience the race set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1.) The seed springing up in haste withered. (Matthew 13:20, 21.) Excitement is delusion, and ends in disappointment. What so important as to cultivate a deep work of grace, pervading the whole man, and abounding with fruit to the glory of God?
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4.
 

 
Proverbs 10:4
4 ¶ He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
 
Proverbs 12:24, 27
24 ¶ The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. {slothful: or, deceitful} 27 ¶ The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
 
Proverbs 13:4
4 ¶ The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
 
 
Proverbs 10:22
22 ¶ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
 
 
Footnote:
Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling, part i. 365.
 
 
Footnote:
Lord Bacon's Essays.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 19:2; 23:5; 28:22.
 

 
Proverbs 19:2
2 ¶ Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
 
Proverbs 23:5
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. {set...: Heb. cause thine eyes to fly upon}
 
Proverbs 28:22
22 ¶ He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. {hasteth...: or, hath and evil eye hasteth to be rich}
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 2:7. Hebrews 6:12.
 

 
Romans 2:7
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
 
Hebrews 6:12
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
 
 
Hebrews 12:1
1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
 
 
Matthew 13:20, 21
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin}