Sunday, June 13, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 10:4-14, we learned about the importance of working hard and of living right. Solomon has written, almost from the start of the Book of Proverbs, about the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding and of living right. In this chapter, he added that part of the overall formula for success and godly joy is to work hard. God did not create man to be lazy. He did not create us to merely be seekers of pleasure. All men and all women, and especially those who call on Christ as Savior, need to be committed to being responsible and hard working. If we earn a wage from an employer, then we owe our employer a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. As employees, we should always do our best. But because we also work for the Lord, we should do our best for Him, too. It is important to be a hard worker. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." I Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." I Timothy 5:8 says, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
Working hard is the biblical way. According to this lesson, those who are not diligent in their labors will become poor while those who are diligent will prosper. Gathering in summer means to gather when we are able. The gatherer will have his or her needs met while the person, who is not diligent and who does not gather when the time is at hand, will probably always be in need. People who live right will have the blessings of the Lord upon their life while those who do not will have His curse. In Proverbs 10:6, the word "just" comes from the Hebrew word that means righteous in conduct and character. It can also refer to the righteous person who is justified and vindicated by God. Thus, the blessings of the Lord are set aside for those people who live according to God's work ethic principle. Throughout the Book of Proverbs, Solomon has written much about living right and about seeking wisdom and understanding. He has said that the wise in heart would receive commandments and instruction. By contrast, the fool will not. He has written that the wise will walk uprightly, but the fool will not. Lastly, he has contrasted the use of the tongue by the good and the evil. The person who has understanding speaks wisely. The person who lacks understanding speaks foolishly. Proverbs 10:14 says, "Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."
How we choose to live is pretty much our choice. We can try to avoid those who speak perversely. We can try to walk the straight and narrow pathway. We can strive to not turn to either the right or the left in our journeys but instead to walk each day with our eyes upon our Lord and Savior. As you reflect on these truths during the coming weeks, try to focus on Christ and then do your best to live the life He would have you live.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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