We’re jumping into a new series for the Text-Driven Podcast and Text-Driven articles, entitled "Text-Driven Work." In Episode 173 of the Text-Driven Podcast, Dr. Timothy Pigg and Klayton Carson discussed a theology of work and made an astute assertion on work—God’s method of provision is observed through work.
Now, going one step further, this article will outline six principles for how work is God’s system of provision by walking through several key proverbs.
Understanding Proverbs
Proverbs can be a difficult book for some people. For some, Proverbs is seen as a book of promises that, if you follow perfectly, will lead to absolute success. For others, Proverbs is a book of generally wise sayings that were more applicable in the times of Solomon than they are today. Both of these views are incorrect and will lead to a poor understanding of work. Addressing the former, the Book of Proverbs are not promises. Rather, proverbs. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that should always be true but aren't always true because of the reality of sin. Therefore, following the Proverbs doesn't result in a 1.000 batting average. Regarding the latter, the Book of Proverbs is still God-inspired literature. This reality means that these wise statements come from God and, therefore, the truths are timeless and can be applied in any context, culture, or economy. The Proverbs being God-inspired simply means that following the wisdom of each Proverb will lead to greater success than following the wisdom of any other person or writing. Proverbs, as God-inspired literature, means that the world God desires is found in the application and outcome of each proverb.
What that means for our study, then, is that what Proverbs says about work is how God desires to provide food, clothing, housing, and finances. Since we live in a fallen world, there are occasions when these principles do fail, but that is the fault of sin, not the fault of God's purpose.
Proverbs 10:22
"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it."
The first principle of work in Proverbs is that the Lord is the one who "makes rich." What this proverb means is that it is God who provides people with what they have, not man. This concept is foundational for understanding as we talk about work over the next several weeks. What we are not saying is that through work, we earn God's provision. Rather, it is through work, we receive God's provision.
Proverbs 10:4 and Proverbs 14:23
"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."
"In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty."
The next principle we see concerning work in Proverbs is that those who are diligent at work will profit, and those who are lazy and idle will be impoverished. In God's economic system, the plan to keep people out of poverty is not welfare or charity, but work. God is apathetic to the downtrodden and helpless; rather, God is compassionate in His provision by providing in a way that all people can receive work. God's system of provision is also just because it is based on simple consequences. Those who work profit, and those who do not work do not profit. Simple, right? Those who toil greater, in God's system, aren't punished for their hard work by having to share their profits with the idle. God's system of provision starts simply with the concept that work is the path by which God provides for needs.
Proverbs 12:11 and Proverbs 6:6-8
"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense."
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."
The next principle of work that we observe is that God provides through purposeful and thoughtful work. A person can say they are working by tying together the tails of cats, but that is not the kind of work that God provides through. God provides through work that brings about fruit. In a non-agrarian society, this means that God provides through work that is valuable to the market. Further, God also provides through work that results in long-term effects. "Get rich quick" work is not the type of work that God provides through. Rather, He provides through work that prepares for "winter" or hard times. That is work that God values. God's system of provision values purposeful and thoughtful work.
Proverbs 22:29
"Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men."
The next principle we see is that God provides through work that is skillful. The last principle shows us that God provides through work that is useful. This principle shows us that God provides through work that is excellent. God desires every worker to seek to be excellent in their field. The preacher should desire to communicate better, the farmer should desire to plant better, and the musician should desire to play better. God's system of provision values skillful work.
Proverbs 10:2
"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death."
The next principle of work is that wickedness does not profit. This principle of work may seem like the least applicable of all because day and night, we see people profit off of wickedness, but we can rest assured that that profit did not come from the provision of the Lord. The Lord will not provide through wicked work. What exactly is wicked work? Wicked work is any work that requires you to sin or commonly leads other people to sin. God's system of provision devalues wicked work.
Proverbs 16:3
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
The last principle of work is that work is to be committed to the Lord. God provides through work that is committed to Him. The last ingredient in the work we do is that we must rely on the Lord to succeed in it. After ensuring that our work is helpful, excellent, and righteous, we must then put our work in the hands of the Lord, allowing Him to use our work how He chooses. God's system of provision values work that is dependent on God.
Conclusion
Work is not a bad thing. Work is not something that came as a result of the fall. Rather, work is part of God's good design and a means by which He graciously provides for us. This text-driven view of work should compel us to shift our minds to think of physical paychecks differently. We do not get paychecks for the work we do; God is the one who provides for us. God's system of provision is found in the simplicity of diligent work.
Written by Klayton Carson
The "Text-Driven Work" series is also on the Text-Driven Podcast. You can listen to the Text-Driven Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at www.textdriven.org/podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday, just in time for your morning commute.
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