It’s no secret that the Book of Proverbs contains bite-sized wisdom that packs a punch on various topics relating to life, faith, and work. But though most of us would agree that Proverbs is a good place to start when looking for general principles about how to run our businesses or organizations in a godly way, far too often the time to study gets away from us. It’s worth spending a few minutes, however, pondering a relevant proverb and considering how it can be instructive for our lives, leadership, and legacy, no matter how busy we are.

Today, we want look at a few illuminative concepts in the Book of Proverbs.

Hard Work Pays Off

He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. – Proverbs 10:4

Whoever tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. – Proverbs 12:11

Proverbs reminds us again and again that, in a sense, there is no secret formula. Life is hard, and people who are steady and relentless in worthy pursuits tend to make out well. High risk, high reward ventures are all well and good if the product, technology, or timing is right – but we always want to check ourselves and ask if we are following hype, or if at bottom we are really creating wealth. Fads come and go, but good old fashioned hard work still pays off in the long run.

Honesty Is Still the Best Policy

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight. – Proverbs 11:1

The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. – Proverbs 11:3

From time to time, it can be awfully convenient to omit certain information from your consumers, or to pad the envelope on your products, or to use questionable methods for getting a better price from suppliers, but at the end of the day, such needless deception is antithetical to our faith. God is not honored by people who call themselves by His name valuing a few extra bucks above righteousness – and above the people they are pulling a fast one on. This isn’t always perfectly clear cut. As a wise man once said, discernment isn’t just telling the difference between black and white, it’s telling the difference between white and almost white. Proverbs invites us to take a look at our business practices, let integrity guide us, and glorify God in our work.

Leaders Are Called to a Higher Standard

It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. – Proverbs 31:4b-5

There’s nothing morally wrong, most Christians will agree, with having a couple of beers at an office party, but Proverbs reminds us that as power increases, so does responsibility. Navigating that equation requires a certain amount of caution and prudence. Bob the janitor shouldn’t drink too much and say foolish things either, but there is far greater damage if the CEO does so. Likewise, just because it might not be “immoral” to ask that woman out, it often isn’t appropriate if you are her boss. There is an issue of authority and power dynamics that we can’t paper over. Just because there isn’t any actual bribery affecting a purchasing decision doesn’t mean that it’s all well and good that you accept extravagant gifts from vendors, depending on your industry’s regulations. Leaders need to be above reproach and be on the lookout for things that could compromise their good governance over their organization, always keeping an eye out for how their decisions affect the little guy and the people who depend on them the most.

In modern times, the Book of Proverbs has been divided neatly into 31 chapters – and incidentally, most months have 31 days in them. By reading just one chapter a day and making space to meditate on the principles and truisms we read, we can allow righteousness to define our organizations, and sleep well knowing that we’ve dug into the scriptures for real-life wisdom in our lives.

Try it. It just might change how you work.

Quick Hits

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• Puerto Rican superstar rapper Daddy Yankee announces his retirement from music so that he can devote his life to following Jesus.
• Office Christmas parties scale back this year, given the state of the economy and shifting employee priorities.
• The Wall Street Journal says that buying a house just doesn’t make sense right now, and brings the data to prove it.
• A federal judge has ruled that World Vision’s policy that marriage is between one man and one woman is unlawful discrimination under Title VII.
• Scott Klusendorf offers a strategy for pro-life messaging in the state by state debate.
• Annualized inflation came in at 3.1% for November.

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