Workplace One-Liners from the Book of Proverbs
[1] The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. [2] Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. [3] The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. [4] A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. [5] He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. [6] Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. [7] The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. [8] The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. [9] Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. [10] Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. [11] The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. [12] Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:1–12 ESV
It’s hard to read more than about 5 of these at once without your eyes glazing over and kicking into “eyes scan the paper while you daydream” mode. The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings from mostly King Solomon and a few other people from history. They are written down in context with each other, so even though they read like a list of sayings your grandma would rattle off while looking over her glasses, they are in groups.
This section has to do with work in a lot of ways. Just like Fortune Cookie game where me and my kids add a prepositional phrase to the fortune, adding “at work” can give some good context to these verses.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother at work.
Whether it’s the mom at work or the son at work, all of the proud dads and worried moms know this one is true.
[2] Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death at work.
Now we’re getting somewhere! Honesty, integrity, righteousness are the things that stand out and are known when the raises and promotions come. Everyone knows the wicked person that is promoted, but that is the stereotypical exception and not the norm.
[3] The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked at work.
Not only do these apply as advice, but as prompts to pray for our community. There are wicked people at wicked jobs that will be thwarted, thrown off course, shut down. There was a strip club on Franklin street that nobody ever thought would go away. I remember the joy the businesses had when they tore that building down. There was a liquor store bringing down a whole neighborhood by Glenwood. Everyone that was trying to help Glenwood succeed gained some hope when the impossible happened and the liquor store went out of business.
Continue through some of these one-liner Proverbs. Chew on them one by one, and watch the Lord guide you in prayer and instruction with each of them.