Jeroboam's Industry

The word "industrious" appears only one time in the Authorized Version (1 Kings 11:28), ironically in connection with Jeroboam, Solomon's servant, a strong type of antichrist (see A.W. Pink's The Antichrist and P.S. Ruckman's The Mark of the Beast for further details).  Reading through this passage recently, I asked myself, "How was he industrious?"; and I was delighted to find that the context, true to its name, provides the context of his industry. 

Jeroboam is introduced in v. 26 as Solomon's servant and adversary, but notice the shift in v. 27 to the past, viz., a building project of Solomon's.  It was here, in the construction of Millo and repair of "the breaches of the city of David his father," that Jeroboam demonstrates his industry, I believe, as well as in his military service (v. 28), distinguishing himself as a mighty man of valour.  So he's not just a good fighter, but also a good worker, and he wins Solomon's confidence, being promoted to "rule over all the charge of the house of Joseph," which likely included all of the tribes except Judah and perhaps Benjamin (which does not follow him when he leads ten tribes to secession).  A badge of his promotion is his "new garment," a signficant expense in those days. 

Industry can be a good thing, of couse (Prov. 22:29), but a wise man once said, "Beware the barrenness of a busy life." Jeroboam's life shows that hard work and valour are not enough: God wants a pure heart above all (Mt. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:4; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Pt. 1:22; etc.).  I'll close with a placard that I have in my home, "Hands to work, hearts to God."