The Ways of the World: The Tyranny of Convenience and the Dignity of Work

The Ways of the World  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 views

Maximize the grace God has given to you so that you might not squander your life.

Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Introduction

Tim Wu, a law professor at Columbia Law School, says that our society has become slaves to the ‘tyranny of convenience.’ He suggests that we have become so obsessed with making our lives more convenient that our lives are actually less satisfying and less meaningful. Rather than devoting our minds to doing a task or a job to the best of our abilities, we are instead devoting our minds to how might get out of the task or make the task easier. We are on this never-ending quest for lives that are more convenient with more leisure and more spare time. Yet, something seems wrong, doesn’t it? Even though our lives are more convenient that they’ve ever been, even though we have more lifehacks than we’ve ever had, even though we don’t even have to go inside of Wal-mart any more to pick up our groceries, our depression rates and anxiety prescriptions are going up, not down. Convenience and leisure aren’t making our lives more satisfying, but less.
In fact, this goes so much against our initial design, that Wu points out that most of us have hobbies that are for the purpose of making our lives less convenient. Without even realizing it, we almost instinctively search out for a measure of inconvenience to add to our lives so that they will be more enjoyable. People work with wood rather than buy a table, not because it’s convenient, but because it’s slow and requires craftsmanship. People paint and landscape rather than buy a painting or hire a landscaper, not because it’s more convenient, but because they want to know what they are capable of and want to have something that they’re responsible for. You can look to golf and hunting and baking and sewing, and behind all of them is this return to something that is less convenient than going to the store or shopping on Amazon Prime. You see, God has designed us for work, and the avoidance of work doesn’t make our lives more satisfying, but less. This morning, we’re going to see in Proverbs as the dad warns his son against going against God’s design of work.

God’s Word

Read

Picture One: The “Wisdom” of the “Ant”
v. 6 “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” In verses 6-11, the dad uses two contrasting pictures to call his son to a productive and satisfying life. He starts verse 6 by addressing a ‘sluggard’, but the intention is for the son hear of such a man and not want to be like him.
The first picture that he paints for his son is the “wisdom” of the “ant”. Because all of creation comes from the mind of God, we are able to observe much about the wisdom of God by looking to the world that He has made. And, that’s what Solomon is doing when he begins to talk about the ant. Proverbs presents the ant twice as a picture of wisdom, once here and then again in chapter 30. It’s a striking picture too, isn’t it? He’s not commending a lion or a leopard or an eagle, but an ant. To us, there are few creatures on earth less significant than an ant, and yet in the economy of God, they are elevated as champions of wisdom. And, this is not lost on this dad talking to his son. He’s holding up the ant as virtuous and the sluggard as immoral. He’s telling this lazy man that he has less sense and less wisdom than the lowly ant.
The Ant “Self-starts” and “Self-regulates”.
v. 7-8a “Without having any chief, officer, ruler, she prepares her bread for summer” Describing the wisdom of the ant, he points out that the ant doesn’t need a boss breathing down her neck, and she doesn’t need a impending performance review hanging over her head to do the work at hand. The ant “self-starts” and “self-regulates.” The ant has an inner pressure, an inner drive that compels her to do her work with all her might. She doesn’t need someone to drive her out of bed with a whip, and she doesn’t need somebody to hold her accountable. She lives in light of true reality, and reality holds her accountable. Reality gets her out of bed. She doesn’t pretend like winter isn’t coming, and she doesn’t pretend like she isn’t going to need food. When I was a youth pastor, I would always demand that the students keep at least $5 back from the money their parents gave them so that they could eat on the way home. Inevitably, on every, single trip, at least one student would come to me and make the case that they weren’t going to be hungry on the drive home so it would be fine if they went ahead and bought a pair of window-blind sunglasses at the novelty store. They were ignoring reality so that they could do what they wanted to do in the moment. But, this is the opposite of how the ant operates. The ant lives with a constant eye toward the reality of the looming winter and the hunger that will come. You’re sleeping, and they’re toting off an entire box of cereal one Frosted Flake at a time. You’re watching TV, and they’re ambushing your leftovers as though its their greatest pleasure in life.

Regulated By Reality

APPLICATION: The wise live in reality. They don’t ignore reality so that they can follow a momentary impulse. They don’t buy a new pair of shoes today, and pretend that they don’t have to buy car tags next week. They don’t sleep late and watch three hours of TV, and pretend as though they’re too busy for time with God. They don’t procrastinate their project at work and pretend that the deadline is no big deal. No! They live in reality, and reality motivates them. Reality holds them accountable. Reality regulates them. Where in your life are you trying to ignore reality so that you can justify what you want to do?

Coram Deo

APPLICATION: The wise don’t need a supervisor to be faithful. They don’t run from life’s most sobering reality: we live always in the face of God. The reformers often used the latin phrase ‘coram deo’, which means in ‘God’s presence.’ This is the picture of the wise. They live their lives accountable to God, regardless as to whether they answer to another man/woman or not. They live in the fear of the Lord. They give their best, first and foremost, not because they want to impress a boss or a coach or a teacher or a parent, but because they want to be pleasing to God and to glorify God through their lives. Do you need a supervisor to be faithful, or is God enough? Do you believe so strongly in the presence of God and accountability of God that his pleasure is enough, even if nobody else will know if you surf Facebook rather than work or talk your day away rather than doing what’s you’ve committed to do?
The Ant “Prepares” for “Tomorrow.”
v. 8 “she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest” The dad also tells his son that the ant “prepares” for “tomorrow.” She works throughout the summer so that she will be ready for the winter. Her winter meals are resolved well before winter gets here. Her bread is ready. Her harvest is gathered.
She lives today in a way that will allow her to thrive in the future. And, there’s a beautiful dignity in this type of work, isn’t there? The work here is mundane. This is the essence of a dead-end job. The ant is never going to get to a place in which she no longer has to worry about winter. She’s never going to get to a place in which she can skip a harvest or ignore the crumbs left behind from your picnic. And, she’s not going to be the Time magazine “Ant of the Year”. Her work won’t feel like it matters much in the grand scheme of the world. But, as mundane as it is, as seemingly insignificant as it appears to be, it’s her job to do, and she has to do it. And, because she shows up for work every day, because she doesn’t back down from what seems like a dead-end job, she lives just as well during the winter as she does during the summer. She’s not an eagle, and she’s not a thoroughbred horse, but she has a beautiful and wonderful dignity.

The Dignity of a Dead-end Job

The wise know that there is dignity in a dead-end job. From the beginning, work was woven into the design of mankind. We, as image bearers of God, work as God works. Work is not the result of sin, but it has been tainted and complicated by sin. And so, even at its best, all work is bitter-sweet. But, the dignity of mankind is closely related to our work. And, like the ant, we work today so that we can thrive in the future. The ant has “what” she needs “when” she needs it. Tomorrow is secured. Our work prepares us for tomorrow in at least two ways.

Winter Is Coming

APPLICATION: Our work prepares us for the looming winter. Winter is coming to your house. Whether it comes in the form of another recession, an injury or illness, or maybe its just age, winter is coming. And, the wise person doesn’t wait for winter to figure out what they’ll eat. They don’t just live however they want to until the winter and plead with God for mercy. For the ant, God has to bring the harvest, but she must gather it. God is sovereign over the rain and sun and grain, but she is responsible to bring it in at the proper time. And, like her, the wise save during the harvest so that they can thrive during the winter. It isn’t godly to live insensibly and that ask God to fix it when emergencies come; it’s foolishness. It isn’t faith to believe you’ll have all that you need tomorrow even though you aren’t doing anything today; it’s stupidity. The ant always saves just enough to get through another winter, and so should we be!

Dead-end Jobs = Treasures in Heaven

APPLICATION: But, God doesn’t just use your dead-end job to get you through the winter; He uses your dead-end job to store up treasures in heaven!Adam’s ‘work’ in the garden would not have been something separate from his worship.” (Laansma) The gospel calls us back to that original design of work. The gospel allows for all work to be worship. It calls for us to bring all of our work into submission to Christ’s Lordship so that He might be worshiped by it and use it for the advancement of his Kingdom. So, you can go to work every day with your lunch pail, you can go to work every day cleaning your house, you can go to work every day with your worn out uniform and know that you aren’t working for ‘the man’. You’re working for the Lord, and if you work with your greatest effort, if you live with character when no one is around, if you do all things to the glory of God, then that dead-end job is a source of treasure in heaven for you. Our generation must once again embrace and appreciate the dignity of going to work, even if its mundane work. It’s unto the Lord, and God use it to bless your family and to bring reward into your life.
‘the man’
Picture 2: The “Foolishness” of the “Sluggard”
v. 9a “How long will you lie there, O sluggard?” The contrasting picture Solomon gives to the wisdom of the ant is the “foolishness” of the “sluggard”. What’s easy to spot is that everything about the sluggard is opposite of the ant. He is the anti-ant. ‘Sluggard’ is used 14 times in the Bible, and all of them are found in Proverbs. In Proverbs, ‘Sluggard’ is just another word for ‘fool.’
The Sluggard “Sleeps” in When “No One’s” Looking
v. 9b “When will you arise from you sleep?” The first description that you’ll notice is that the sluggard “sleeps” in when “no one’s” looking. He’s not like the ant who self-starts and self-regulates. He keeps hitting snooze and keeps asking his mom for five more minutes. He’s most likely a farmer, and nobody makes a farmer get up. But, if a farmer doesn’t work, a farmer doesn’t eat. What we see is that the sluggard lacks drive. That is, he lacks the energy and ambition to care what happens to him or to others. He may daydream about doing great things, but when the alarm goes off every morning, he desires sleep more than progress. Selfish ambition is wicked unto the Lord. It shows that you do not take him seriously that your treasures are in heaven. But, no ambition is equally wicked unto the Lord. It shows that you don’t care that others are loved, that He is glorified, and that his Kingdom is expanding. The wise have ambition to see that their families are well taken care of and the needs of those around us are being met. The wise have ambition to utilize every breath in a way that draws them closer to God.
APPLICATION: Too much leisure is both a love problem and a hate problem. You both love and hate the wrong thing. You love doing nothing, and you hate waking up. You love being free, and you hate commitment. You love shrinking back, and you hate stepping up. Commitment is viewed as a cross to be avoided in our generation. Commitment was once the mark of true manhood and womanhood. To take responsibility for something over a long period of time once a source of pride and dignity, but now a source of resentment. Commitment is viewed as an enemy of leisure. Is it any wonder that we have fewer marriages who waiting longer to have children? In our church, we have to work with our ministry leaders to minimize the level of commitment from each person so that they can recruit leaders. It’s because people just aren’t sure they even want to come to church that much. Church, the Christian community, which has been viewed for centuries by believers as a rest from the world is now viewed as the very thing from which we are to rest. They don’t want to commit. We have a love/hate problem! We love the wrong things and hate the wrong things!
APPLICATION: Not only does he lack drive, but the sluggard lacks discipline. Surely, he has good intentions, but he just never gets around to it. He intends to gather the harvest, but he just doesn’t have the discipline to get out of bed and go. Drive and ambition that hope to accomplish anything must be channeled through discipline. Discipline is ambition with a plan. The wise aren’t as worried about intentions as they are plans. You may intend to be stronger as a man or woman of God by this time next year. But, what’s your plan? You may may intend to have greater joy in Christ. But, what’s your plan? You may intend to reach your friend or to save $1000 or to teach your children the gospel, but what’s your plan? Sluggards have dreams, but they don’t have any discipline to get there.

No Drive, No Discipline,No Love

APPLICATION: The issue with a lack of drive and discipline is a lack of love. Too much leisure is both a love problem and a hate problem. You both love and hate the wrong thing. You love doing nothing, and you hate waking up. You love being free, and you hate commitment. You love shrinking back, and you hate stepping up. Commitment is viewed as a cross to be avoided in our generation. Commitment was once the mark of true manhood and womanhood. To take responsibility for something over a long period of time once a source of pride and dignity, but now a source of resentment. Commitment is viewed as an enemy of leisure. Is it any wonder that we have fewer marriages who waiting longer to have children? In our church, we have to work with our ministry leaders to minimize the level of commitment from each person so that they can recruit leaders. It’s because people just aren’t sure they even want to come to church that much. Church, the Christian community, which has been viewed for centuries by believers as a rest from the world is now viewed as the very thing from which we are to rest. They don’t want to commit. We have a love/hate problem! We love the wrong things and hate the wrong things!

Ultimately, A Lack of Dignity

APPLICATION: Ultimately, the sluggard lacks dignity. His lack of drive and discipline boils down to a lack of dignity. To work is to display God’s image. To not work is to demean God’s image. It is to live in conflict with God’s image in you. And so, by staying in the bed, sleeping away his life, this sluggard shows that he has less dignity than an ant. The ant is serving its role and doing what it was designed to do, all while this sluggard buries his head into the pillow. He is in rebellion to God’s design. He is less than what God designed him to be, and he cannot be satisfied for long. Live a dignified life! The woman is clothed in dignity because of her work! Paul exhorts men to put away childish things and do the work of God. It’s their work that clarifies and demonstrates their God-given dignity.

No Drive, No Discipline,No Love

APPLICATION: Too much leisure is both a love problem and a hate problem. You both love and hate the wrong thing. You love doing nothing, and you hate waking up. You love being free, and you hate commitment. You love shrinking back, and you hate stepping up. Commitment is viewed as a cross to be avoided in our generation. Commitment was once the mark of true manhood and womanhood. To take responsibility for something over a long period of time once a source of pride and dignity, but now a source of resentment. Commitment is viewed as an enemy of leisure. Is it any wonder that we have fewer marriages who waiting longer to have children? In our church, we have to work with our ministry leaders to minimize the level of commitment from each person so that they can recruit leaders. It’s because people just aren’t sure they even want to come to church that much. Church, the Christian community, which has been viewed for centuries by believers as a rest from the world is now viewed as the very thing from which we are to rest. They don’t want to commit. We have a love/hate problem! We love the wrong things and hate the wrong things!
The Sluggard “Squanders” His Life a “Little” at a Time.
v. 10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” The second description we see is that the sluggard “squanders” his life a “little” at a time. He says, “Just a quick nap.” “Just five more minutes of sleep.” “I’ll just knock off an hour early.” “It’s waited this long. How could one more day hurt?” He always rounds up his time clock, and he’s always waiting for a day with more time or a job with larger gain. He’s like Cousin Eddie, holding out for a management position.
The fool doesn’t appreciate incremental investment. He doesn’t appreciate the value of a single second and how seconds stack up over time. He says, “I don’t have much money to save; so what good is it for me to save it? I don’t have much to give; so, what good is it for me to give it? I don’t have much time to work; so, why work at all?” The sluggard is the most unfortunate fool. He takes for granted God’s greatest gift and our greatest commodity. Time is the currency of our worship. Time allows us to know God, glorify God, and become like Christ. And, he squanders it. He could improve his community, but he sleeps. He could serve his family, but he sleeps. He could worship God through his work, but he sleeps.

A Mediocre Life?

APPLICATION: J. Oswald Sanders says, ‘If a Christian is not willing to rise early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work, that person will not change a generation. Fatigue is the price of leadership. Mediocrity is the result of never getting tired.’ Are you going to be content with having lived a mediocre life? “Your danger and mine is not that we become criminals, but rather that we become respectable, decent, commonplace, mediocre Christians. The (modern) temptations that really sap our spiritual power are the television, banana cream pie, the easy chair, and the credit card. The Christian wins or loses in those seemingly innocent moments of decision.” (Ortlund, Sr.) Will you wake up and win? Will you raise your children to wake up and win?
The Sluggard “Doesn’t” Have “Enough.”
v. 11 “and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” Or, will you end up like this sluggard? Will you come to the end of your life and realize that the sluggard “doesn’t” have “enough”? Will you come to the end of your life only to realize that you’ve squandered it away 5 minutes at a time? Fools are victimized by their own laziness. Like a thief in the night, laziness will steal your life away from you. You always think that you’ll get around to it. You always think you’ll make it one day. But, when winter shows up at your house, you have no food to eat, no money to manage, and no hope of survival. When you lie on your deathbed with your loved ones gathered around you, your surrounded by your own wasted potential. Our lives are like a mist that blows in the wind. They’re here for a second and then they vanish. Don’t live your whole life surrendered to the tyranny of convenience until ultimately that tyrant steals away from you everything that mattered.
Discussion Questions:
Why do we sometimes not want to look at reality?
How can we worship God through a dead-end job? What role does our attitude play in this?
What have you needed in past “winters” in your life? How can you attain that wisdom before winter comes?
Why do we have such difficulty with discipline? How does that relate to our dignity as God’s image bearers?
What are some ways that we squander our lives a little at a time?
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more