Today’s passage is quite short, but there’s a lot packed into this single verse:
From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
and manual labor has its reward. (Prov 12:14, NRSV)
The second half of the verse is perhaps self-explanatory. Manual labor does indeed have many rewards. I do a lot of head work, which means that I spend lots of time sitting like a lump in front of my computer. Whenever I actually get up from my chair and venture outside to work in the yard or do something else with my hands, I always marvel at how much better I feel afterwards. Also, there is often a sense of immediate accomplishment when I finish a “manual labor” project, whereas much of my head work takes much longer to complete: months or even years.
But it’s the first part of this verse that really catches my eye whenever I read it. In recent years I have spent a fair bit of time and money learning the various techniques that Internet marketers use to make money online. There are affiliate programs, where you get a cut for promoting someone else’s product or service. There are lead-capture pages to entice people to disclose their names and email addresses for future marketing purposes. And there are any number of scams. I’ve seen them all.
The real money lies with those who generate original content. Whether you’re a programmer and your creation is the next must-have iPhone app, or you’re an author and you’re writing the next bestseller, it is those who actually create the products that earn the most. If you wish, then, you can set up an affiliate program and build an army of Internet marketers to market your products.
Original content is also what the search engines are looking for. I am often cajoling my Web clients to start blogging … or to blog more than they already are. Pepper relevant keywords throughout your posts, and people are sure to find your websites. I continue to be amazed by the people who find my own various websites, and this blog in particular. Fresh, original content makes all the difference.
“From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things.” Indeed.
What does the fruit of the mouth mean to you? Share your thoughts below.
For an in-depth look at the power of the word, I invite you to (re)read my blog post of June 8 titled “The Power of the Word.”
