There’s a line in my favorite book (the Bible) that says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Think about that for a minute. What are “lazy hands” and what are “diligent hands”? And, more importantly, what does this have to do with you?

Have you ever thought, “Ugh, I don’t want to go to work today!” or “Gosh, I hate my job. It’s so boring!” or even, “I can’t wait for the day when I don’t have to be stuck at this job anymore!”

If you have, you’re not alone. That’s the way most people think about work. They see it as a nuisance, as something just getting in the way of living their lives.

But the truth is, we were put on this planet to work. And you can either work with excellence and diligence, or you can be bitter about the fact you have to work, be lazy or just refuse to work.

If you choose to work with excellence and diligence, you will be promoted to bigger and better things. But if you can’t be trusted to have a good attitude and work ethic with the small things, then you’re going to have to keep doing these small things for the rest of your life, until the right attitude leads you to do it right.

I’m sure you’ve seen adults, and kids, who do not work with a spirit of excellence. They have a sense of carelessness about what they do, and a lot of times, a horrible attitude. That is the “lazy hands” side of this.

Why do lazy hands make a man poor? Because how do you make money? You work. If you resent your job, your boss or your work, it shows. It shows in the quality of your work, in your communication with your boss and coworkers, and in your attitude and work ethic. If you are lazy, you will not be promoted. In fact, lazy people are the first to get fired! Lazy hands equal a poor man.

So what are “diligent hands” and how do they bring wealth? Diligent workers invest in their work. They invest their hearts and souls into their job, and truly have a desire to help their company grow. They have a sense of ownership – they treat the company as if it were their own. Diligent employees work with excellence, doing everything to the very best of their abilities. They do not make excuses; they find solutions. They bring huge value to the marketplace. And, diligent workers are also grateful workers.

When you have a spirit of excellence and gratefulness, you look at your work as a privilege and as a stepping stone to greater things. You’ll see a whole different type of fruit come out of your work. You’ll find yourself on the fast track and be promoted quickly.

Can you imagine the difference if your parents taught you to actually enjoy work? Imagine if you learned to view work in a totally different light, as a privilege to allow you to make money. Look around you – there are millions of people unemployed and desperately seeking a job. So if you have a job – even if it’s not your dream job – consider yourself extremely blessed! It is an honor to work! And like I said earlier, if you work with excellence and diligence, you will be promoted. If you are lazy and bitter about work, you will not be promoted. It’s that simple.

So today, evaluate which side of this equation you are on – “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” What is your attitude about work? Do you enjoy work, or do you hate it? Do you work with a spirit of excellence or bitterness? Do you see your work as a privilege or as a burden?

I have taught to my kids this, since they were very young, and they have grown up with an incredible work ethic. They learned the importance of work and responsibility, and it has set them up for a lifetime of success.

We have also created this kind of atmosphere in our own companies and employees. We have taught them excellence and diligence are expected. And I have to tell you, it is really amazing to work in a place with this mindset in common. They value work, they take ownership of their jobs and they work consistently with excellence. You wouldn’t believe how incredibly rewarding it is to work in a place like that!

That’s why I encourage you to share this with everyone in your company today, as a great way to get everyone on the same page and begin to create an environment filled with diligence and excellence. (Just forward this link or share it on your social media sites!) It is also so important to instill this mindset in your children – it will set them up for success for the rest of their lives, no matter what they do. Isn’t it amazing so much business and career advice can be found in the Bible?! It’s all there!

In great faith,