January 19, 2026 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs

Proverbs 13:4  The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 20:4  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Proverbs 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

We once again come to this guy, the sluggard, which is also called the slothful in other portions of scripture.

It stands to reason that the sluggard, the one who is lazy and accomplishes little, will have many unfulfilled wants. But, those who are diligent will have what they need when they need it.

The sluggard does not plow because he makes excuses for not working. “It’s too cold outside for work,” consequently he has nothing when it comes time to harvest and he begs.

There is right time to do things and prepare for the future; the sluggard has no desire to prepare and as a result suffers.

We then see in chapter 26:16 that the sluggard believes he is right in doing what he does even though seven men try to reason with him. With all that reasoning he still does not see his error.

My friend, all of these examples of the sluggard and the slothful are there for our learning.

Proverbs 1:5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Romans 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

What does the bible say about labour and diligence and hard work.

Ecclesiastes 2:24  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

As we apply that to our spiritual life we find that consistent reading of God’s word is good for the soul. We find that God is pleased with bible study.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Corinthians 5:9  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Don’t be a sluggard when it comes to the word of God, don’t make excuses and please, listen to reason when it comes to salvation.

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Don’t put off salvation until it’s too late. Trust in the Lord Jesus now.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook