Three Rules for Working Smart - Proverbs 6:1-15 - June 6, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – Three Rules for Working Smart – June 2, 2008

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study.

Our scripture is Proverbs 6:1-15.

King Solomon addresses work, in particular, working smart.
Most employers appreciate and try to take care of their good and faithful workers. But as with life, things can go wrong. So it is vital that every worker put a portion of their earnings into savings. Basically look out for yourself.

By the same token, every employer must practice good management to make a profit. Some Christians get disgruntled with employers because they will not let them witness for the LORD or read the Bible on the job. Breaks are generally excluded from the provisions. But every Christian needs to be the best worker an employer has – on time, hard working, not wasteful, etc. I know some reading this will have many issues pointing out the short comings of management.

Some management practices are shameful. A person told me that his boss told him, if you have a choice between doing something important for the company or going to buy a box of chocolates for the President of the company, if he or she asks him, go buy the chocolates. Often companies with this mentality fail or end up in serious trouble.

Having a good work ethic is important for every person and especially for a Christian. During your working years your colleagues at work are like your family. Dedicated workers must manage their time and not neglect their real family. Most bosses will try to work with employees to rearrange work schedules for them attend special events in the lives of their family.
Some of us have retired but we still need to manage our time. Recently, I spent a short time listening to a very energetic eighty (80) plus year old man. He runs five (5) miles a day. He was an inspiration to me. He said because of better health care humans are living longer have more time to be productive during their retirement years or bonus years than ever before. It is important for people to plan for those years by saving, taking care of their health and staying active.

Let’s examine rules for working smart. GOD ordained work in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, work went from being a joy to being toil. When a person accepts CHRIST as their SAVIOR, CHRIST not only restores believers to the original state of fellowship with GOD through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT but HE restores the joy of work. Work becomes a “calling.” If you are not enjoying your job, ask the LORD to either lead you to another job or help you to see the purpose HE has for you in the job you are in.

Let’s read Proverbs 6:1-5 (Be Wary of Foolish Entanglements)

Financial Entanglements
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor[1] Or friend or entered into an agreement with[2] Lit or shaken hands for or with a stranger,[3] The Hb word for stranger can refer to a foreigner, an Israelite outside one’s family, or simply to another person. [4] Pr 11:15; 17:18; 22:26 2 you have been trapped by the words of your lips[5] Lit mouth — ensnared by the words of your mouth. 3 Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. 4 Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. 5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,[6] Lit hand like a bird from a fowler’s trap.[7] Lit hand [8] Pr 11:15; 17:18; 22:26

Solomon begins with “my son” to emphasize the father son relationship. In Solomon’s day fathers instructed their sons. In that day daughters did not transact that much business. In today’s world parents usually share in instructing their children. Also, in today’s world there are single parent households, therefore instructions can fall to either the mother or the father. In today’s world both sons and daughters both transact business. Even in today’s world GOD expects the father to be head of the household and be the spiritual leader. However, we all know that in generally many men just do not measure up to what GOD wants in their lives. Many times the father will not assume his role and the mother has to take on that role.
Now back to Solomon, any contract a person signs, money he or she borrows or co-signs tie him or her to the lending party. This is a legal entanglement and has the potential for a person to be at risk beyond his or her control. This can involve your reputation because of the person(s) you do business with.

Solomon used the word “security” which carries the connotation of co-signing a loan. It carries the idea of a person loaning his or her authority or credibility to the party with whom he or she has entered into the agreement. Thus, when a person enters into such an agreement he or she runs the risk of putting his or her reputation or credibility at risk.

We begin to see the legal implications and the potential impact such agreements can have on a person; Knowing this, consider that GOD co-signs an agreement with every believer. At the moment a person receives CHRIST as his or her SAVIOR, GOD gives the believer the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT as a security deposit (down payment) to seal the agreement of rebirth.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22:
21 Now the One who confirms us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; 22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

GOD in essence has co-signed an agreement with every believer at the moment he or she receives CHRIST. Think of the cautions Solomon used when he instructs a fellow human about making an agreement with others. Yet the GOD of the universe on HIS own makes an agreement with every believer. HIS agreement comes from HIS complete knowledge that once a believer enters into the agreement, it will be HIS promise and power that ensures that the agreement is firm.

HE is the ONE WHO has given us a security deposit of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT is our guarantee that we are fully redeemed, have eternal life and will dwell with GOD.
Now relate this to an agreement with a fellow human being. Fortunately, GOD can be trusted and only has the very best in HIS heart for HIS children.

Agreements can be very good but Solomon wants people to stop and think long and hard before entering into an agreement with another person or institution. Beware of the fine print, the hidden motive or reputation of the other party.

Solomon stressed the importance of not entering into an agreement with someone else because when you do it gives that person control over you. Such agreements can compromise our reputation because of being associated with the person with whom we have made the agreement. This is especially true when making an agreement with a stranger. Once you agree, whether a signed document or a verbal agreement, then your lips have trapped you. Does that mean never make agreements? NO. But it does mean people need to be very, very careful before entering into an agreement. Once the deal is signed, you have forfeited some of your right of control to someone else.

The word “agreement” means to slap “to strike hands” and carries the idea of a hand shake or signing an agreement or a note. The moment the deal is done, a certain amount of control has been forfeited. A person is obligated to fulfill the requirements of the agreement.

Solomon is dealing with financial issues. In Solomon’s day, Jews were to loan money to fellow Jews without charging interest. But the person lending money could require something of value to secure the loan. For example, a person could use his cloak or outer garment as collateral. But the person holding the cloak had to return the cloak in the evening so the person could keep warm during the night. But come morning, the cloak had to go back to the person lending the money.

Things changed because we read in the scriptures about some people taking the homes of widows. Today, we see homes being taken from individuals because of interest rates escalating and because they made unwise decisions.

When a person sees that they have gotten into a potentially perilous situation, he or she needs to go immediately and attempt to get out of it. The father, in this scripture, is not telling the son to shun his obligations but to manage them. As soon as you realize you are in trouble, you need not to wait but deal with it. Delay will compound your problem. This is true for those who get behind in their credit card bills. The compounded interest will wipe you out unless you either pay it off or work out a plan with the Credit Card Company or companies that specialize in negotiating debt reduction.

Solomon’s advice is to do it quickly. That advice is just as relevant today as the day it was written.

Let’s read Proverbs 6:6-11: (Be Wise in Your Work Ethic)

Laziness
6 Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler, 8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.[9] Pr 10:5; 30:25 9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,[10] Pr 26:14; Ec 4:5 11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.[11] Pr 20:13; 24:33–34; Ec 4:5

Solomon used an excellent example of a good work ethic, the ant. The ant does not have to have someone pushing it to do what it knows it has to do. It gathers and prepares for the winter. Farmers do the same thing. We, as humans, need to do the same thing. Always save some of your earnings. But in our society, the mentality is spending now and worrying about paying for it later.

The best course of action is to work and save for what you want. Try to get in on sale and pay cash, then start saving again for the next thing you want. Credit card Companies are in the business of getting you to spend, spend, and spend but when you cannot pay they hound, hound, hound. Be wise and plan ahead.

Solomon is talking to the slacker. A slacker is a sluggish person. A person tied to their bed and finds every excuse not to do something. The slacker is one who knows what he or she needs to do but cannot get around to it. A person’s slackness robs him or her of what they have in their mind to accomplish.

The ants sleep seven (7) hours but when it’s time to get up, they go to work. They are diligent about work and about rest.

Now there are those who cannot work for a variety of legitimate reasons or confined to a bed. This is understandable. There are some folks in very bad circumstances but do something to feel a sense of accomplishment.

Let’s read Proverbs 6:11-12: (Be Warned About Wicked Dealings)

The Malicious Man
12 A worthless person,[12] Pr 16:27; 19:28 a wicked man, who goes around speaking dishonestly,[13] Pr 4:24 13 who winks[14] Pr 10:10; 16:30; Ps 35:19 his eyes, signals with his feet, and gestures with his fingers, 14 who plots evil with perversity in his heart— he stirs up trouble constantly.[15] Pr 6:19; 16:27–28; 28:25 15 Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly—beyond recovery.[16] Pr 24:22; 29:1

A “worthless” person as used in Proverbs is one who plots evil. A worthless person is a wicked person and he or she speaks dishonestly.

Dishonest people will get their just deserts sooner or later.

It amazes me the schemes that people come up with to take advantage of others. However, I have been enlightened about those who scam others. Those who scam think if people are so stupid to fall for the scam they deserve to lose their money or property. So in general, they have no conscience about bilking others out of their money or property.
We should be on the lookout for those who will take advantage of us and we, especially as believers, should not take advantage of others.

It is unfortunate that we live in times when people say they are Christians to help authenticate their plans to deceive others.

A gift of the Spirit is discernment. We as believers need discernment during these times.