Proverbs 13:11 says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” Apparently there were get rich quick schemes back in Solomon’s day just like there are in ours. Shortcuts are perennial. Cheats are readily available. When you need to interpret a king’s dream, you can always go to the witch of Endor. Maybe she can cast you a spell. But vacuous measures will always vacum up your proft. In truth, there are no get rich quick schemes. No shortcuts. No cheats to make you prosper. The way to increase is to gather by labour, and the Hebrew behind that word labour is literally “by the hand.”

Now there is a type of person who insists on doing things the hard way no matter the results. But the text doesn’t say to gather with a blindfold on. So don’t do that. That would be dumb. But do gather by the hand. Little by little, your hands will be trained. Do put your shoulder to the plow. Your shoulders will grow stronger. Give it time. Tough work makes tough men; and it makes them increase. If you feel good and tired at the end of the day, that’s a sign that you’re doing it right.