Wise Labor and its Results. Proverbs 10
Beginning in chapter ten and extending through the
remainder of this book—with the exception of a few places where there is
an extended discussion such as Proverbs 31 which talks about the virtuous
woman—these are just a miscellaneous, yet divinely inspired, collection
of proverbs. They are not necessarily meant to be studied
verse by verse, but we go through and categorize these pithy little sayings
that have boiled down key principles of the Word, and then we apply them in our
life.
We started on the negative side of the doctrine
related to wise work and labor. The negative was not
to be slothful, not to be irresponsible, not to be lazy. Now we will look at
the flip side of that, which is wise labor and its results in our life. The
importance of labor according to the wisdom of
Scripture as well as the result of labor, which is
the production of wealth in our lives. And wealth is not simply a term
that is a financial metric. One may not have a whole lot financially but have
wealth from the Scriptures. One can have little financially and use it wisely
so that is provides great abundance of we follow Gods principles for our use
of these resources. We now look at the characteristics of the wise worker to
begin with and then the results of wise work. In other words, how some of the
things the Proverbs say about how we handle our finances.
The first characteristic that we see of a wise worker
is a flip side of what we saw in terms of the slothful worker. The same section
is on both because this passage is built on an antithetical parallelism, which
means there is a contrast in Proverbs 6 between the one who is slothful,
unwise, doesnt think in terms, of preparation, and doesnt work hard in a
consistent manner during good times in order to prepare for the bad times. So
the illustration that is used in Proverbs 6-8 has to do with the ant. The wise
worker works diligently and consistently, doesnt work in terms of an immediate
need, but has a consistency in the work pattern so that every day is built on
the same level. Whether there is success or whether there is failure,
especially in some careers, it is hard to continue to self-motivate. No matter
what our career might be we all experience days when we are successful, days
when we are not successful, and we have to keep a consistency there of working.
And even in times of abundance the prosperity test is one we often fail because
we have a tendency therefore to waste financial resources, a tendency maybe to
ease off on our diligence and in our work; but then we need to be preparing for
the difficult times, the end game when we may retire, a time when we may be out
of work due to health reasons. A number of things can happen. All of these
things we need to save for. As the writer of Proverbs points out, we prepare in
the summer and gather food and harvest for the harder times in the winter.
The second point is beyond just diligence. A wise
worker also takes initiative and works well without supervision, developing a
mental attitude where he realizes that he is not working for himself; he is
really working for the Lord. That is expressed in both Ephesians 6:7 as well as
in Colossians: that we are not to be as men pleasers but we are to work as
serving the Lord. So we view our employment as an opportunity to express the
image of God in us, using whatever measure of creativity that we have in terms
of our image as Gods creatures, so that we can apply that to whatever area of labor that we are engaged in. This can function both in our
vocation as well as in our avocation. We work to please God and therefore we
should be working with an attitude of making ourselves indispensible to our
employer. Our time during that work is his time, the time that we are getting
paid for in order to make that person successful. That is a foundational
attitude that should be in the mindset of the worker.
Unfortunately this runs counter to the mentality of
many workers and they work to get something that is entitled to them, not
something that they are working to earn. An entitlement mentality destroys a
true biblical work ethic.
The third point is that the wise worker prepares for
the future and does not work for the immediate future. When we think about
Scripture the episode that comes to mind is the one from Joseph in Genesis. It
is wise to save for the future, for times of disaster as well as times of
retirement. This is a virtue in the Christian life. It is not a violation of
trusting God.
The fourth characteristic of the wise worker is that
he patiently and consistently pursues success. This is an important factor.
This is an enduring consistency. We have to have perseverance. No matter what
difficulties there may be we continue to go forward. The race goes to the one
who is the consistent plodder.
Proverbs 28:19 NASB He who
tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty {pursuits}
will have poverty in plenty. We are to have consistency and persevere, and be
diligent in everything that we do.
The fifth characteristic of the wise
worker is that he works responsibly and develops and uses his resources well.
Proverbs 27:23 NASB Know well the condition of your flocks,
{And} pay attention to your herds. This use an
agricultural analogy from a shepherd: that a shepherd is going to pay attention
and know all of his sheep. He is going to pay attention to their health, to
their welfare, and everything there is to know about each one. We can transfer
that easily to work. We need to study and learn about everything it is that we
do. [24] For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown
{endure} to all generations. This is an explanation of the previous
verse—because riches dont last forever. A contemporary application would
be that we keep everything in good work order.
A
sixth characteristic. A
wise worker performs his duties with excellence and artistry. We not only learn
to do it well, we learn to do it with a measure of aesthetic beauty. We not
only need to function well but the form needs to be done well. This is an area
of weakness in most evangelical theology going back to the Protestant
Reformation where there hasnt been a lot of thoughtful development in the area
of the theology of beauty. Everything that God did was not only functional; it
had beauty. What happens in the breakdown of culture? Many different t cultures
present different dynamics. One dynamic that is evident in our culture is we
operate on form rather than function. For example, politicians are excellent at
presenting a certain faade but there is no content behind it. You cant trust
what many politicians say. On the other hand, there are people who will
sometimes reject the functional simply because it is not visually appealing,
not aesthetically appealing. When we look at Scripture there should not be this
dichotomy between form and function, but the two go together. A wise worker is
not only going to excel in terms of the mechanics or the details of his job but
he is going to develop skillful artistry in the presentation of his work.
Proverbs 22:29 NASB Do
you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not
stand before obscure men. Notice, he stands before kings not because of his
self-promotion but because he performs well. And ultimately God is the one who
truly promotes a person.
This is all a part of understanding
wisdom. Wisdom is the skillful application of Gods Word in life. It is not
just the application of Gods Word to life; it is the skillful application of
Gods Word to life. It takes time to develop skill.
Remember, Proverbs is stating what
happens in most cases; a proverb is not a promise.
Proverbs 10:4 NASB Poor is
he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
The way to wealth is consistency, perseverance, and pursing excellence in
everything that you do. But there are many people who pursue their jobs and
careers in many areas and yet God, for whatever reason, does not promote them.
And thats fine; that teaches us then to rely upon God and not upon ourselves.
In many cases God does not promote us because He knows that by promoting us it
may destroy us, because we havent yet developed the capacity to handle
prosperity. Prosperity often destroys people more than it elevates them. So we
have to learn to be content with what God has provided for us and content with
where we are, and yet at the same time pursuing excellence. The result is that
we will enjoy success and fulfillment in our vocation.
The word vocation comes from a Latin
word meaning a calling, recognition that every human being has a calling from
God. That calling is often displayed in the area in which you labor. It may not
be. There are many people who work where they work simply because that is how
they could get a job, and they are not able to labor in the area of their true
love. This, again, has its own test. We have to put
food on the table and provide for our loved ones the best that we can, and at
the time that we are doing that we need to be pursuing options and alternatives
where we can indeed provide a living in the area where we excel.
But then there are some of us who have
areas of service where we excel that are not areas that are financially viable.
But the principle is that the hand of the diligent produces a success.
Once we have enjoyed success there are
responsibilities that come with the success. Wisdom teaches the value and the
use of that financial success, that it is not just something to be frivolously
spent on the details of life but that there are responsibilities toward others
that come with the possession of wealth.
We must first understand that in the
context of Scripture wisdom comes as the result of listening to God. Wisdom has
its root in God, so that when we look at the Scripture and it talks about
providing something it is ultimately saying that God is the one who provides
the knowledge and the understanding in order to accomplish the task. So wisdom
as the result of listening to God is the source of true wealth.
There are many people—and the
Proverbs talks about these—who pursue wealth through illegitimate gain,
and it just passes through their hands and has no enduring value; they have no
capacity for prosperity. Proverbs 8:18, 19 talk about the fact that Wisdom
(God) is the source of wealth. [18] Riches and honor are with me, Enduring
wealth and righteousness. Notice the connection here between wealth and righteousness,
that this is not just a matter of physical wealth, but this is talking about a
wealth that goes beyond the physical—the spiritual wealth, the spiritual
capacity that should be developed along with the development of physical riches
and property. [19]
My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my
yield {better} than choicest silver. So in the pursuit of wealth we should be
pursuing wisdom and spiritual maturity and our relationship with God even more.
The value of knowing Gods Word is more
important, more valuable than the value of wealth or riches. That is not saying
that physical wealth and riches are not valuable. It is saying dont get distracted
by that which has only temporal value. The Scriptures never talk negatively
about the rich. What they do talk about is that money is not the source of all
evil but the love of money is the
source of evil. That is greed. Greed is warned against. But the responsible
development and use of wealth is praised in the Scripture, because it is
through those who have wisely used their wealth that many others are provided
for and blessed. But the ending isnt physical wealth, it is spiritual wealth;
it is developing that spiritual capacity to use what God has provided for us.
Proverbs 24:3 NASB By
wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is
established. Here house is a reference to an entire family and all that is
produced by that family. It is built on wisdom. It is a dynasty, a family, a generation where wealth is passed and distributed from one
generation to the next. [4] And by knowledge the rooms are filled With
all precious and pleasant riches. So wisdom, which is doctrine from the Word of
God wisely applied, is the true source of personal wealth and riches.
The next thing we learn about the
proper and responsible use of wealth is that as it ultimately comes from God we
should not be covetous. Colossians chapter three talks about covetousness or
greed being another form of idolatry. It is wonderful to pursue wealth but not
for its own sake and not for an illegitimate manner.
Proverbs 28:16 NASB A
leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding Power without wisdom is
oppression, tyranny. We live in a world today that is characterized by that
more and more, even in so-called free countries. But this is not unusual
throughout the history of humanity. The norm has been oppression from rulers. Rulers
thrive on power and strength, not on the wisdom of Gods Word. {But} he who
hates unjust gain will prolong {his} days. In other words, dont give in to
greed, materialism; the end game is not how much you have externally but how
much you have internally.
Proverbs
11:28 NASB He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous
will flourish like the {green} leaf. The one who is trusting in his riches is
not righteous. Righteousness is characterized by trusting in God. One who
trusts in God can have great riches but the one who trusts in his riches will
not have a relationship with God. The righteous will flourish whether he has a
large bank balance or a small bank balance. If you are righteous your spiritual
wealth will flourish.
Proverbs
13:7 NASB There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing
He has prosperity with no capacity. He in on a frantic search for happiness and
meaning and value, yet he has nothing in his soul. He may have all of the
external trappings of great wealth but internally he is miserable and unhappy
and without capacity for life. So when the wealth is taken from him he has
nothing to live for and his life is destroyed. {Another} pretends to be
poor, but has great wealth. The way he makes himself poor is through the
distribution from his own volition of his resources to help and aid others. He
gives up hoarding for his own purpose. This is one who gives to sustain others,
and therefore he has great riches.
We
should be cautious with our financial resources and not give unwisely or
provide for others unwisely or frivolously spend our money. We should be
cautious and responsible with what God gives us. Proverbs 19:4 NASB
Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.
We
should use our resources to responsibly aid those who are less fortunate. Proverbs
29:7 NASB The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor
Notice that this is the responsibility of the individual, not the
responsibility of the government. The wicked does not understand {such}
concern. That seems to have a wonderful political application! Those who do
not understand that it is the responsibility of the individual citizen to take
care of those who are impoverished within a culture are wicked. That would
apply to many people in government who seek to tax the individual thinking that
somehow government is going to be more efficient and more effective in
providing for the poor. Yet in the past, before we got this idea that the
government takes care of everybody from the cradle to the grave, who took care
of the poor, of the orphans, of those who were elderly and sick.
It was through churches. It was through the religious organizations that
provided a much more personal care. There was a level of accountability closer
to the source of the money.
Only
Christianity has produced orphanages and hospitals in order to sustain and aid
the poor. This comes out of a Judeo-Christian framework. Jews have done this as
well. You dont find it in Islam, in Buddhism, in Hinduism; there is not a
value placed upon the individual in those cultures. Now we have gone back to a
pagan form. We are about to see the true largesse of the Federal Government
when Obamacare comes into affect, because government
cannot appropriately and efficiently handle the compassion it needs for those
who are poor. We have seen this in the whole area of welfare and how it has
destroyed the black community in America, and the black family, because of the
way in which it is structured. So we come back to that principle that we really
cannot trust government very much. Government in and of itself
is not evil but because it is controlled by people who are evil, because they
are sinners, it leads to all manner of wickedness and disaster. And so we have
to understand from Scripture that it is on the individual, on each one of us to
look around and be cognizant of those who have needs and to help them.
Proverbs
28:27 NASB He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who
shuts his eyes will have many curses. God is the one who sees. Our giving should
be done in private. God is the one who supplies all of our needs and all of our
resources. Proverbs says those who give to the poor will not lack; God will
sustain them.
Proverbs
11:24 NASB There is one who scatters [one who gives], and {yet}
increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, {and
yet it results} only in want. The one who holds on to what God has given them
doesnt receive more. God doesnt give them more because they are not
demonstrating their capacity for the wise use of their resources.
Proverbs
19:17 NASB One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good
deed. So we are to use our resources to responsibly aid those who are less
fortunate.
Wealth
is the result of honest labor, but we should value that which is eternal. Dont
just focus on that which has temporal value but that which has eternal value.
Proverbs
27:23 NASB Know well the condition of your flocks, {And} pay
attention to your herds; [24] For riches are not
forever, Nor does a crown {endure} to all generations. We are to pursue that
which has eternal value.
Wealth
has limited value; righteousness is forever. We need to be pursuing that which
has eternal significance, that which will be rewarded at the judgment seat of
Christ in terms of gold, silver and precious stones, which simply stands for
different degrees of rewards and responsibilities in the millennial kingdom.
Proverbs
11:4 NASB Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But
righteousness delivers from death. We know from Scripture that the basic
problem of every human being is a lack of righteousness. We are born
unrighteous; we are born spiritually dead, and the first step toward life is to
trust in Jesus Christ as our savior. At that instant God imputes Christs righteousness to us. That is the
beginning of our spiritual life, the beginning of our new life in Christ, and
that life must be nourished and developed. And, as Peter says in 2 Peter 3:18,
we are to grow by the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This isnt
something that happens immediately but happens as a result of applying these
same principles of perseverance and diligence in the study of Gods Word. When
it is all over with it doesnt matter how much we bequeath to our children, it
doesnt matter how large our bank account, it doesnt matter what kind of car
you have in the driveway, the only thing that we take into eternity is the
spiritual wealth that we have developed within our own soul, and that then
forms the basis for our rewards and future responsibilities in the eternal
state.