We are here told, 1. Who those are who, though rich, are in a fair way
to become poor--those who deal with a slack hand, who are careless and
remiss in their business, and never mind which end goes foremost, nor
ever set their hands vigorously to their work or stick to it; those who
deal with a deceitful hand (so it may be read); those who think to
enrich themselves by fraud and tricking will, in the end, impoverish
themselves, not only by bringing the curse of God on what they have,
but by forfeiting their reputation with men; none will care to deal
with those who deal with sleight of hand and are honest only with good
looking to. 2. Who those are who, though poor, are in a fair way to
become rich--those who are diligent and honest, who are careful about
their affairs, and, what their hands find to do, do it with all their
might, in a fair and honourable way, those are likely to increase what
they have. The hand of the acute (so some), of those who are sharp, but
not sharpers; the hand of the active (so others); the stirring hand
gets a penny. This is true in the affairs of our souls as well as in
our worldly affairs; slothfulness and hypocrisy lead to spiritual
poverty, but those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are
likely to be rich in faith and rich in good works.