Sunday’s sermon, “Work,” from our Life Together series looked at God’s instructions for godly behavior at the workplace and in school from Ephesians 6:5-9.
As you are reflecting on the sermon from Sunday and what God may be asking you to do, consider some of the verses from Proverbs related to work.
Proverbs on Work:
- Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)
- Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. (Proverbs 10:4-5)
- He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. (Proverbs 12:11; also Proverbs 28:19)
- From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. (Proverbs 12:14)
- Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (Proverbs 12:24)
- Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it. (Proverbs 13:11) NASB
- All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)
- The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on. (Proverbs 16:26)
- Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger. (Proverbs 19:15) NASB
- A sluggard does not plough in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. (Proverbs 20:4)
- The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. (Proverbs 21:25)
- Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)
- I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34)
- The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly. (Proverbs 26:15-16)
- She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. (Proverbs 31:13-16)
- Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:31)
All the verses are from the NIV unless otherwise indicated.