There’s a line in my favorite book that says, "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." Think about that for a minute. What are lazy hands? What are diligent hands? And what does it 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 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 that just gets 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 that you have to work, or be lazy and 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 with a good attitude and work ethic on the small things, then you’re going to have to keep doing these small things for the rest of your life, until you get it done right with the right attitude.

I’m sure you’ve seen kids and adults who do not work with a spirit of excellence. There is this sense of carelessness about what they do, and a lot of times, a horrible attitude about it. 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, your work, it shows. It shows in the quality of your work, in your communication with your boss and co-workers, 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 make a man poor.

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

When you have a spirit of excellence and gratefulness and you look at your work as a privilege and as a stepping stone to greater things, a whole different line of fruit comes out of the work you do. You will be placed on an accelerated track and will be promoted quickly.

Can you imagine if your parents taught you to enjoy work? Imagine if you learned to look at work in a totally different light, that it’s a privilege to work and make money. Look around you – there are millions of people who are 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 is it a burden?

This is something I have taught to my kids since they were very young, and they have grown up with an incredible work ethic. They have 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 that excellence and diligence is what is expected. And I have to tell you, it is really amazing to work in a place that has this mindset in common. They value work, they take ownership of their jobs, and they consistently work with excellence. You wouldn’t believe how incredibly rewarding it is to work in a place like that!

That’s why I would highly encourage you to share this with everyone in your company today. This is 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 groom this mindset into your children – it will set them up for success for the rest of their lives, no matter what they do.

And just a reminder – we will not be together on Wednesdays for The Dani Johnson Show or the Spiritual Equipping Broadcast. But please join me Sunday nights for our nationally syndicated radio show. I can’t wait to share what we are talking about…you’re going to love it! Talk to you Sunday night at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT!

In great faith,

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