Proverbs 16:26

Proverbs 16:26 (ESV)

A worker’s appetite works for him;

his mouth urges him on.

The above proverb is an observation that those who are hungry will be driven to work.   Even begging on the side of the road can be consider, by some, as a form of work.  The hunger of that man or women has driven them off their couch and onto the streets to at least beg.   Hunger is a motivating factor.   Note what the Word Biblical Commentary says about this proverb, below:

“Life is presented here as a struggle in which bodily appetite is seen as a powerful moving force. "Appetite" (נפשׁ) is paralleled by "mouth," which here is not the organ of speech, but serves as a synonym for desire or appetite. "Works" (עמל) is a key word in Qoheleth, and Whybray interprets line a in the light of Eccl 4:7-8 (a rich person working out of greed) and 3:9 (work seen as futile). However, such a context is forcing this proverb which is content to merely register an observation. A better analogy would be Eccl 6:7: "All human work is for the mouth, but the appetite is never satisfied." Here mouth and appetite are in parallelism. Although the dissatisfaction of Qoheleth is apparent, his comment recognizes that the appetite for food is a basic fact that moves humankind to work.”

Whereas the hunger is stated as a motivating factor, the type of hunger is not.  Those who are "hungry" for riches will strive and work to get more.   Those who "hunger" for affection and appreciation will go through walls if others show them thus.   Solomon, therefore, gives us a key that to get others to work, is to find or identify their particular hunger or appetite.   It might be said that we each have a particular "appe-type" of life.   Discovering that "appe-type" is a way to assure that the worker never becomes de-motivated in life.   His or her hunger will urge him or her on.

Have you ever tried to motivate someone to do something they didn't want to do. It is not an easy tasks. Solomon tells us in this verse of how easy it is to motivate someone who is being given the chance to do something they are hungry to do. The wisdom found here is that people are naturally motivated as long as we don't try to move them out of their natural appetite. Leaders, coaches, teachers and parents can learn a valuable lesson about motivation and success in this verse. Finding out someone's natural motivations and allowing them to work and lead them is a lot easier than making them do something they are not hungry for. The second line of the verse builds on the first line. Hunger is a great motivational tool. Being "dissatisfied" with your current situation is a great reason to change. As parents we try to protect our children from being dissatisfied or hungry for something. We give them something to stop the dissatisfaction. But, the hunger is the one natural thing that will drive them on. It is not saying allow someone to go hungry. It is saying that hungry people have an inward motivation to do something. Find out what people are hungry for and put it out in front of them. Then get out of the way and let natural motivation take its toll.

See also:

Proverbs 18:20 (ESV)

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.