At first glance, it may seem that Proverbs 12:24 is giving us permission to seek rulership over others. It may even seem to promote slave labor. But I want to approach this from a different angle.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
Should the Diligent Rule Over Others?
I think it’s pretty clear from scripture that God never intended for man to rule over man. After all, He created Adam and Eve in His image. He certainly commanded the pair of starstruck lovers to subdue the earth, and to rule over the animal kingdom. Man, the pinnacle of God’s creation, was to have dominion over the rest of His creation. But that dominion did not extend toward each other.
Mark 10: 42-43 reads:
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
This message is reiterated in Luke 22: 25-26.
What a terrible travesty it is that in much of the church today the leaders (i.e. pastors and elders) lord themselves over congregations. In some denominations, there is a clear hierarchy, a worldly structure that consists of a pecking order. And those at the top—often kind toward those at the bottom, and very often full of grace—clearly rule as lords, and many of them even think of themselves that way.
If I were in one of those church leadership positions, I’d use Proverbs 12: 24 to justify my rule. After all, these men are usually very diligent in their pursuit of ministry, attending seminary, studying long and hard, and working their tails to the bone to achieve those positions. They should rule, shouldn’t they?
Diligence and Laziness Are Universal Principles
Proverbs 12:24 isn’t so much a commandment as it is an observation. Written by a wise man, the author is astute in pointing out a natural law of God’s creation. It applies to the good and wicked.
The principle is this: If a person is diligent in their pursuit of glory, if they work hard at obtaining an ambitious plan, they are much more likely to succeed than if they are lazy. In fact, they are so much more likely to succeed that eventually they will. This sentiment has been expressed by others down through history, in one form or another.
Pelé, the great Brazilian soccer player (known by the rest of the world as football), said this:
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
John D. Rockefeller, perhaps the richest American in history, said:
I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.
Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius opined:
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
In other words, all one needs to succeed in any endeavor is diligence and perseverance, whether one is seeking a kingship or authorship. And let’s not forget that all of us are sinners, so achieving success in any endeavor is not an act of righteousness in God’s eyes. That’s true of kings, queens, and paupers.
In life, diligence is the main ingredient in success. If one has a goal to achieve, if one approaches it diligently, one can achieve that goal. But if one is lazy, one should not expect success.
Another way to look at this is to examine the very nature of diligence. What is it? It is that quality that makes an individual ruler over his or her own passions. Instead of lazing about with idle hands, being slothful, and expecting others to do the hard work, the diligent does what is necessary to keep progress moving forward. Whether building a house or writing a novel, the diligent rule the process. The lazy are forced into survival mode, often coming up short of dollars and with too much time on their hands, which gives them ample opportunity for doing more of nothing but meditate upon their plight.
Long story short, the diligent rule over themselves while the lazy labor endlessly to get nowhere, spinning their wheels without ever getting traction.
Are you ruling over yourself?
Allen Taylor is author of I Am Not the King.