Wisdon at Work October 31, 2021

Introduction

Work gives identity to us and it in many ways shows our character. It’s also probably one of the biggest areas of life that proverbs comments on. And the wisdom of the proverbs shows us how to find success in our work.

So what does the book of proverbs have to say about work?

OK first of all let’s kind of back out and talk about what the rest of the Bible says about work.

The Bible begins with God working to create the whole world in the first chapter of genesis. And then at the end of six days of work he takes one day to rest. God created us in his own image and he gave us good work to do in the garden. From the very beginning before sin entered the world man was given work to do.

Genesis 2:1–3 ESV

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Now what happened in the second chapter of genesis was the fall and sin of man. Because of that first sin mankind was cursed and part of that curse was work becoming less pleasant.

Genesis 3:17–19 ESV

17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

And so because of the fall of mankind not only was work less pleasant to do but men were given to send an laziness and a tendency to abuse and oppress others. But one of the most hopeful things about the New Testament is the reality that Jesus reversed many of the effects of the fall. Because of what Jesus did he restored work as something meaningful and something significant we can do before God.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

The Sluggard

The sluggard. The reality throughout all of scripture is that persistence is necessary for holiness. This is a lesson that shines throughout the book of the proverbs. It takes work persistent work to grow to be holy as God calls us to be the warning against sluggers is something really that shows up throughout all of the book of proverbs.

And we can see the cost of being a sluggard throughout our lives. Whether it's walking around your neighborhood you see homes in disrepair. Or walking around your workplace you see men or women slacking off on what they should do and that having destructive effects. Or perhaps you look around your own home or your wife reminds you of how you been a sluggard about certain home projects like for me a screen door has been on my plate for quite a bit of time.

Proverbs 24:30–32 ESV

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

I love this quote by the Greek philosopher plutarch

‘Wise men profit more by fools than fools by wise men. For wise men will avoid the faults of fools, but fools will not imitate the virtues of wise men.’[1]

Proverbs calls us too be wise men and women and to consider the effects of being a sluggard. Proverbs calls out for us to profit to reap the benefits of seeing the cost of laziness. So today let's take a look at different attributes different characteristics of a sluggard. Let's draw such a picture in our minds from the book of proverbs said when you or I are tempted down these paths or thoughts or characteristics we see them and we think to ourselves I cannot go down that path because it's not worth it.

What a sluggard looks like

Sluggards are lazy

Proverbs 6:6 ESV

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

When you look at proverbs chapter six it draws this comparison between sluggard's and ants. And might be tiny little insects that you can destroy with your foot or Ant bait but they show extraordinary wisdom in their persistent hard work.

Sluggards delight in sleep and rest

Proverbs 6:9–10 ESV

9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

A sluggard doesn't get out of bed early to work he takes and makes time to enjoy himself late into the night. He invests in pleasures and doesn't take delight in his work.

Sleep is important to keep you healthy and recreation clears your mind and makes you more productive and creative. But what sets the sluggard apart is their delight and focus on recreation. God has called us to be children of God. God has called us to live a truly purposefilled life. This is not a life of leisure.

Sluggards don’t take initiative

Proverbs 6:7 ESV

7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

Look at the Ant, think about ants right now. The ants that are invading your kitchen. They don't need supervisors to tell them what to do, they just do their work. They don't need pump up meetings to psych them up for the job ahead of them they simply need space to just do their job. A sluggard waits until someone else tells and insists that they get to work. Work only when necessary might be their motto.

Sluggards look for easy money

Now we need to remember that the Bible doesn't teach that you need to work yourself into the ground and kill yourself for your work. That's actually a sign that you or I might be idolizing our work and worshiping it instead of God. But someone who is a sluggard who does not practice the wisdom that God desires is someone that is always looking for ways to make money without having to work that hard. The humbling reality though is that the sluggard's aren't just harming themselves but they're also harmful to those around them.

Sluggards are destructive.

Proverbs 18:9 ESV

9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Proverbs 10:26 ESV

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Someone who doesn't work hard but instead looks for all the ways out of work is destructive to their workplace and their boss. They are destructive to their families instead of helping and causing their families to thrive instead their families suffer for what they do not do.

Consider this, it is probably one of the most important things you do 2 consider someone you want to marry to know what their view is on work period are they someone who is willing to work? Do they have a good attitude about the value of work?

On top of all this proverbs paints a picture of gods actions that he takes twords sluggard's.

The consequences of being a sluggard.

Proverbs 10:26 ESV

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Proverbs 15:19 ESV

19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.

Proverbs 6:11 ESV

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 19:15 ESV

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 12:24 ESV

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Part of knowing the consequences of being a sluggard means also understanding yourself. It means understanding that if you struggle to work in a vocation that doesn't have much structure, perhaps you need to find ways to add structure to your life or shift what you do.

If you think about it a sluggard will suffer a lifetime full of unmet ambitions and desires. The wise and diligent individual will have a lifetime of accomplishing the things he dreams to do doing what he sets out to do. A sluggard will have a lifetime of regret. Which camp do you want to be in? Who do you want to be?

Proverbs 10:5 ESV

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

One more comment on the topic of the sluggard. We need to remember that God uses discomfort to teach us lessons. God uses poverty and failure to teach lessons too the sluggard.

Proverbs 16:16 ESV

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

If we enable someone who refuses to work we can get in the way of God's purpose in their life. If we give material possessions and provision to someone unwilling to lift their hands to help themselves we can sub vert and damage what God's trying to do in someone's life.

Remember what Paul taught in the New Testament regarding the New Testament church?

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV

10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Those who live off the labor of others are called thieves by the Bible.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

We need to be careful in our lives that we are not enabling someone to avoid the consequences of being a sluggard in their life period of being someone who refuses to work. Because God has heard and many beneficial consequences that teach us lessons. I can't count the number of times God has hit me upside the head with a two by four to get my attention in life.

Parents need to. You do and many of us will have children who need help in many ways. But we need to be committed to balancing our desire to help our children with our desire to let God shape character in them through some hardship. Through hard work.

Of course God ordains charity in the Bible. The Old Testament has many stories of men and women stepping in to provide for and care for someone else. Think of the story of Ruth in the book of Ruth. Well there's a difference between enabling someone and helping them along with Through your generosity.

So God calls us throughout the book of proverbs to avoid this sluggard period to avoid this destructive, dangerous, thieving individual. And we need to avoid being such a person.

But who do we need to be with regards to our work?

The book of proverbs calls us to be diligent in our work.

The Wise worker

I love this quote:

“A man’s character is demonstrated by how he approaches his vocation.[2]”

So what does a wise worker look like?

A Hard Worker

Proverbs 6:6 ESV

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Think again of the ants that invade your kitchen. They never stand still and less you've just sprayed them with insecticide. :) in the same way, a wise man works hard.

Takes initiative and works well

Proverbs 6:7 ESV

7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

Think about the ants as well they don't fight over who does what. They don't stand around waiting for instructions. They perform faithfully the tasks they know need to be done to care for their community.

A wise worker solves problems, a wise worker doesn't require constant oversight, a wise worker works hard even when the boss isn't watching.

Remember what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6 encouraging believers to work hard:

Ephesians 6:5–6 ESV

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Prepares for the future

Proverbs 6:8 ESV

8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

Again returned to the aunt. Each Ant is dedicated towards preparing for the future. The Ant understands innately that it must stockpile rescources to make it.

A wise person works hard to prepare for the future. With their children we need to challenge them to think not just about today but about how God wants them to use their skills in the future. With our grown children we need to challenge them to think ahead and prepare ahead. And not just live in the moment.

Patiently pursues success

One of the defining characteristics of a sluggard is that he or she is consumed and works hard to not work hard. They are constantly looking for get rich quick's schemes. A Wise man is simply someone who patiently works to do the right things one day at a time again and again and again.

Proverbs 28:19 ESV

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

And this doesn't mean that wise men close their eyes to new ideas or opportunities to succeed quickly. But a wise man understands that true success is found impatiently doing the right thing again and again.

Good steward of resources.

In the culture that the proverbs were written to your production depended on your animals and your fields.

Proverbs 27:23–24 ESV

23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?

The wise man and woman understands that money and wealth can disappear but the skills we learn in taking care of our workplace and the things that make us money will endure.

And perhaps you might not live on a farm. Perhaps you may not take care of cattle. But look around in your life and you will see whatever your workplace is whether it's home or office how are you taking care of it?

Proverbs 24:30–32 ESV

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

Performs duties with excellence

A wise man works hard with excellence no matter what his work is. He or she does whatever he can to the glory and honor of God.

It's appropriate to quote Luther today I suppose because it's the day we celebrate reformation day.He said:

‘The milkmaid and the manure-hauler have the noblest of vocations,’ said Luther, ‘for they are doing God’s work in the world.’[3]

Colossians 3:17 ESV

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So wise person is someone that works with excellence and even artistry. A wise person is someone who takes care of their resources. He or she is patient as they pursue success. How does God reward diligent men and women.?

The rewards God gives

And as we go through these remember these are proverbial. As we talked about before they're not prophetic or all the time promises. But this is how God works.

Financial success

Proverbs 10:4 ESV

4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Yes sometimes lazy people win the lottery. And sometimes diligent people face drought or disability or accidents and more. Yet it still holds true that people who are diligent and work hard will prosper.

Success and fulfillment in vocation

Proverbs 12:24 ESV

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Proverbs 22:29 ESV

29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

If you are diligent and faithful as a worker you will experience blessings in your chosen vocation. You will be respected in your community.

Fruit of His labor

Proverbs 16:26 ESV

26 A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.

What's more satisfying than a day that you go to bed after working hard on meaningful things? Or just a day you get home and you know you put in a good day's work?

Let's remember the rewards of work whether we're working hard in our career or enjoying the reward of retirement. In either case work still rewards the worker.

Reward at final judgement

Now here is an interesting thought. We will also be rewarded for our diligent work by God. Not in a roundabout way with wealth and money and blessing by God but in a direct judgement day since God will reward us for the good work we've done.

Ephesians 6:8 ESV

8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Not communism.

There is a persistent idealistic thought throughout history that why don't we just level the playing field entirely economically? Why don't we just unite for the common good and share everything.? That's kind of the dream behind communism and some of socialism.

But proverbs recognizes the depravity of mankind. If mankind was entirely sin pre than communism and socialism might work. But God has designed that there be pressures that cause us to need to work. God has designed that diligent people can and should prosper and lazy people should suffer poverty. We need to be careful to not allow our governments and our societal structures to take away the incentives that we as human beings need to work.

God's word end proverbs specifically is full of grace and mercy to those in need. Our government and our society should be geared to be able to take care of people in need. But we must also have a SoC where people are equipped and motivated to work.

OK, a few warnings too hard workers:

Warnings to the wise worker

Commit your work to God

Proverbs 16:3 ESV

3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

this means don't brag about your successes and make sure you are always looking to God for his leadership and guidance.

Don't worship your work.

Proverbs makes a big deal about the value of work but more than anything proverbs teaches us to fear and honor God. Proverbs calls us to diligent hard work but never to worship and make an idol out of the work we do.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Challenges to different people

We need to teach our children to work.

Proverbs 10:5 ESV

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

We need to value home makers

in a culture that celebrates women going to work and succeeding in every area of life we need to also celebrate and value men and women who work at home. Who care for the family and invest in the household as their work. I'm thankful for the work that my Ashley does with such excellence. We need to celebrate the moms who invest so much in their homes.

Older people, keep working!

You may have retired from your chosen profession. But you never retire from what God calls you to be doing. There are endless opportunities to serve God no matter how young or old you are. You can greet, you can pray, you can serve in many different ways. Enjoy the blessings of work by finding ways you can invest for God.

Don’t be a spiritually lazy person

Some of the hardest workers in the world our total sluggard's when it comes to the things of God. They've so dedicated themselves to the benefits that come from work that they totally missed the more important things. They make excuses time after time after time. They say I'm investing so much in my work that I don't have time for these silly spiritual things. They say one day I'll start going to the church and reading my Bible. If you were going to pick one or the other choose to be diligent about your faith and then that in turn will challenge you to diligence in your work.

Conclusion

God gives meaningful work.

God has given each of you amazing things to do work to do to bring honor and glory to him. Pay attention to how God has made you. Find the ways that he is created you to work meaningfully and to serve him in the world.

God gives rest

work is crucial but it's never meant to be all consuming. Even in the beginning God ordains 6 days for labor and one to rest. God gives us spiritual rust because of what Jesus has done. When it comes to salvation we've already rested from making ourselves good enough for God. Rest is good. Getting a good night's sleep is important period taking a day off of work so you can spend time with family and relax is important period rest is crucial.

[1] Jim Newheiser, Opening up Proverbs, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008), 107. [2] Jim Newheiser, Opening up Proverbs, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008), 111. [3] Jim Newheiser, Opening up Proverbs, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008), 113.