THE WORK ETHIC IN GOD’S KINGDOM

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

PROVERBS 27:15-27
Lesson #45
THE WORK ETHIC IN GOD’S KINGDOM

• Memory Verse: Pro 27:17
• ^“A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.” (15)
• ^“Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.” (16)
  • Key words: contentious (strife); bewrayeth (betray).
    • We had a previous similar proverb about a contentious woman. (Pro 19:13)
    • Both proverbs say the same thing. A woman that nags is like water dropping on a metal roof. It drives you crazy because it is noisy and never stops.
    • Remember that a woman has the responsibility of the environment in the home. She should make it a place where family members can find peace and refuge.
  • You can’t hide the wind. In the same way you cannot hide a woman that brings strife to her house and family.
  • Her husband may try to hide her contentious nature but like perfume you will be able to smell the truth. Her family will not prosper because she betrays it with her strife. The ointment in the right hand refers to God’s blessings.
  • Eventually the atmosphere of her home will betray itself, for the blessings in her husband’s hands will disappear.
• ^“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (17)
  • God uses the personalities of other people to confront different aspects of our character. God wants to form us and change us to be the people of God that He can use for His kingdom.
  • Usually we remove ourselves from people that rub us the wrong way when in fact those are the people God often uses to change us.
  • Therefore, make friends with those that challenge you to be better. Notice that the proverb says it is iron to iron, so choose friends of the same moral strength of character that you have.
  • If you do not chose friends with strong moral character, they will drag you down to their level of immorality.
• ^“Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.” (18)
  • The fig tree in scripture represents two things: believing faith and the nation of Israel.
  • Jesus cursed the fig tree just before the crucifixion. (Mat 21:17-22)
  • The nation of Israel did not take care of the spiritual blessings that God gave them. They had leaves = a profession of faith, but they did not have fruit = believing faith to produce the fruit of souls for the kingdom of God. Therefore Christ cursed them because they did not honor their master, Jesus Christ.
  • The Jews should have received Christ to serve God. If they had, they would be blessed and honored today. Instead they are hated and persecuted around the world.
  • The Jews are a lesson for us. We need to have a saving faith, and then we need to serve God by faith.
• ^“As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” (19)
  • All humans are alike whether you see the reflection of your face in a pond or you consider man’s heart.
  • All people have two eyes, one nose and one mouth. The hearts of all people want the same things in life: a meaningful life, enough food, clothing, shelter, and love.
  • The believer and the non-believer are equally the same in this respect. The difference is how one goes about getting all of these things.
    • The believer will trust in God for His provision and guidance.
    • The non-believer will steal, lie, kill, and oppress others to one degree or other to get what he wants in life.
• ^“Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” (20)
  • As long as humans are born into this world with a sinful flesh nature there will always be humans that choose the way of Satan over the way of God. Those that choose the way of Satan are destined for eternity in hell.
    • The word “destruction” in Hebrew is personalized. In other words it refers to the destroyer (Abaddon), the one who destroys. (Rev 9:11)
    • Satan is never satisfied no matter how much death and destruction he achieves.
  • Man’s eyes that follow Satan’s agenda are never satisfied because, like Eve, the lust of the eyes will continue to entice humans into sinful disobedience that end in hell and destruction.
• ^“As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” (21)
  • Key words: fining pot (a pot for refining metals).
  • The person that cooperates with the Holy Spirit that works to change your character will be praised by God. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to work with the born-again believer to make him more and more like Christ.
  • A person that becomes popular and receives constant praise from people has his character tested in the same way as silver and gold is tested by fire. Will he become prideful and gain a big ego?
• ^“Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.” (22)
  • Key words: bray (beat); fool (no God for me); foolishness (the way of the fool).
  • No matter how much you beat a fool and try to change him, you cannot force him out of being a fool that says, “No God for me!” The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not force anyone to do God’s will. He does not force anyone to receive Christ in his heart.
  • God never violates His gift to man which is man’s free will to choose who he will serve.
  • Verse 21 and 22 give us the contrast between the non-believer and the believer.
    • The non-believer will resist God’s conviction of sin.
    • The believer will repent of sin when the Holy Spirit convicts him.
    • The difference between the believer and the non-believer is man’s free will to choose between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God.
• The remaining proverbs in this chapter deal with your work ethic and reaping prosperity:
• ^“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” (23)
• “For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?” (24)
  • Key words: diligent (constant care).
  • In the agricultural society of Israel in Bible times, wealth was determined by the size of one’s flocks. God’s provision was linked to how well they cared for their flocks.
    • God tells the believer to be diligent (faithful in constant care) to do a good job in the work God has given him to do. It is not important what kind of job you have, but that you do it well.
    • The believer in Christ should be the best worker in the company taking care of all the proper details whether you are taking care of animals or doing some other job.
    • Read 1Tim 6:1 and Tit 2:9
  • Worldly riches are temporary and do not last forever. They will last as long as you are frugal with your wealth.
  • In the same way is the king’s position of authority. It will last as long as people are content to let him rule. Therefore the king should make sure he does a good job of ruling his people.
    • Whether you are a king or a boss in your company, you need to do a good job in meeting the needs of the people under you.
    • God puts people in authority whether it is a king or a company boss.
• ^“The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.” (25)
• ^“The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.” (26)
• ^“And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. (27)
  • The farmer knows the seasons of the year and when to gather food for his animals so that they have food all year. If he fails to gather the hay at the appropriate time, his animals will die and his prosperity will suffer.
  • If he takes good care of his animals, the lambs will produce wool for clothing. The goats can be sold to buy another field. Meanwhile the goats give him milk for his family.
• Summary:
  • God is concerned about our work ethic. His provision and prosperity are uniquely tied to our work ethic.
    • If we do the minimum, the least possible to just get by so as to keep our job, our blessings will also be at a minimum.
    • Therefore, there is a balance between doing the minimum at work and being a workaholic. Both extremes are out of balance in God’s kingdom.

Homework
Proverbs 28:1-12

• Application of Pro 27:15-27
  • What do you think verses 15 and 16 mean? (The word “bewraeth” means to betray.)
    • A woman that constantly brings strife to her house and family will betray the prosperity of her family as well as the peace in the home.
  • What kind of friends does verse 17 tell you to choose?
    • Choose friends with strong moral character so as to make you a better person.
  • (Advanced question) What do you think verse 19 means?
    • All humans are the same and want the same things in life. The difference is how the person chooses to get the things he wants.
• Preparation for Pro 28:1-12
  • Read Pro 28:1-12
    • Why do the wicked flee when no one pursues him? (1)
    • Find one proverb that you think best describes society today. Explain why you chose that proverb.
    • What are some things that the righteous who seek the Lord can understand that the wicked do not understand? (5)
    • Whose prayer is an abomination to God? (9)
• Memory verse: Pro 28:9