Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it’s provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. – Proverbs 6:6-8

Though those last few moments before you way up are sweet, proverbs warns us here on giving in to the temptation of laziness.   This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t rest but we should not rest when we should be working.  This ant is used as an example because it utilizes its energy and resources efficiently.

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. – Proverbs 10:4

Every day has 24 hours filled with opportunity to grow, serve, and be productive.  Yet it is so easy to waste time, letting life slip from our grasp.  Refuse to be a lazy person by fluttering away the hours meant for productive work.  See time as God’s gift and seize the opportunity to live diligently for him.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. – Proverbs 12:11

This verse implies that you are to use what you have to bring wealth into your life and support your family.  If you only think or dream about what you want to accomplish but don’t put in the work, then you have no sense.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. – Proverbs 14:23

Don’t be the person who only talks and plans to do something great.  Be the person who is focused enough to put in the hard work to make it happen.  Only talking about it will lead only to poverty.

Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. – Proverbs 13:11

Don’t cut corners through dishonest schemes to build wealth or making money.  What you will realize is that there is more bad that comes with it than good.  If you work steady and diligently to build wealth, it will come and there will be no evil attached to it.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” – Proverbs 24:33-34 (NIV) 

Often times, we are unaware of how much time passes us by when we take little naps and sleep in the middle of each day.  It will creep up on you and accumulate and you wont know where all the time went.  If this is the case, after a while you will see that you missed opportunities to be productive and generate revenue thus leading to poverty.

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” – Proverbs 13:22 (NIV)

God has a way of transferring the resources from the wicker to be used to develop the kingdom of God.  An example of this is when Israel was being lead by Moses out of Egypt., They left with the Egyptians gold and silver. God knows how to make transactions happen that are in favor of the righteous to accomplish his purposes.

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

This is a spiritual law of reciprocity.  You will reap what you sow. So sow generously and you will reap in due season.

“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” – Proverbs 28:27 (NIV) 

Another way to read this Proverb is to say “Those who open their eyes to the poor will be blessed.  If we help others when they are in trouble, they will do whatever they can to return the favor. In Phil 2:19, Paul says that God will supply all our needs.  He usually does this through other people.