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

 How does one define “hard work.” How many hours a week does it take to be a hard worker? There is no rule of thumb for the amount of time working it takes to be a hard worker. Different times have different cultural norms – and what may seem like a long day of work one place may be quite a short day elsewhere. The Bible does not get that specific. So we are left to assume that hard work is an attitude of the heart. It is an attitude of purpose, looking for ways to further a cause, invest in the Kingdom, or contribute to the work of a business. We do have the benefit of seeing what “hard work” is not – mere talk. Talking that is idle, and without purpose is what is condemned here. This carries with it an attitude of idleness and lack of purpose. So, we don’t get as specific an answer as we would like, but as specific as we need – Have an attitude of diligence.