Many professions have a code of
professional ethics. Turn to
Proverbs to see what the book of wisdom tells us about a Christian work ethic no matter what
your business.
1. Honesty
The Lord takes a personal interest in
the conduct of his people in the marketplace.
In the agrarian society of Solomon's Israel, this principle was
communicated through weights and measures.
The Lord concerns Himself with the honesty of the weights so that He
delights in a true weight, but hates a false balance. Read this for yourself in Proverbs 11:1,
16:11, and 20:10,23. Because the use of
weights and measures were common practice in commerce, the Lord is therefore
seen as taking personal interest in the commercial transactions of everyday
life.
Proverbs 11:1, 20:10, and 13 inform
the person in business that the Lord hates commercial dishonesty. "Abomination" means that such
practice is disgusting to Him. He has
the same disdain toward those who gain by crooked means (3:32), liars (6:16,
12:22), the wicked or even criminal in business (15:8,9), and those who pervert
justice (17:15).
The dishonest will face consequences
for their lack of integrity in business.
Note the parallelism between the man who does right and has
"wealth," and the man who is wicked and has contrasting
"trouble" in Proverbs 15:6.
"Trouble" could be shame (Genesis 34:30), death (Joshua 7:25),
or general affliction (Isaiah 14:29), but is opposite to "wealth"
here in Proverbs. What is true today in business was also true in Solomon's
day:
What goes around comes around. Income dishonestly gained ultimately does not
profit, and will lead to discipline from the Lord. Read the warning in Proverbs 10:2; 16 and
11:18.
Proverbs mentions
few but important specific dishonest practices.
Although many feel it a legitimate business procedure, Proverbs 15:27
couples bribery with "illicit profits” Literally the word here means
"to cut." The person who uses
bribery "to cut the big deal" is not outside the eyes of the
Lord. The benefit sought will really
bring trouble to his own home. Bribery
is a perversion, Proverbs 17:23.
Lying may be
thought of as necessary, or even legitimate sales puffing, but the prosperity
it brings will only be short lived.
Proverbs 20:17 and 21:6 speaks to this.
These passages
from Proverbs definitely reveal the Lord's intimate interaction with those in
business. The believer must consider
honesty as part of his work ethic.
2. Diligence
A. Energetic Action
The believer
in business is to be characterized by diligence. "Diligence" (XXXX) in the Old
Testament portrays decisiveness of action.
The diligent is one who is energetic so that there is accomplishment of
the goal. There is a sense of sharpness,
and alert action with the diligent (cf. Isaiah 10:22-23; 28:22).
In Proverbs the diligent are
contrasted with the sluggard, whose actions, when finally taken, are listless,
inappropriate, and ineffective in securing their goal. Diligence denotes conscientious and
persistent activity, where actions are not wasted but part of achieving the
goal.
B. Results of Diligence
i. Material Wealth
Material prosperity is the expectation
for the alert and active worker. Read it
for yourself in Proverbs 10:4, 21:5, 13:4. In these verses, "soul" is
used for one's desires. The desires of
the soul are fulfilled, or "made fat" for the diligent in business.
ii. Leadership Opportunities
Leading others is also the reward of
diligence according to Proverbs 12:24.
One author comments, "Through his industry a man reaches the
position where he becomes the employer of labor." (Cohen, Proverbs,
p.78) The one who proves he is
diligent is blessed with the greater responsibility of leading others who do
not possess this alert and energetic nature. We all know someone who started
out working as a janitor or some menial job and worked through the corporate
ladder to become a manager, vice or even president. The simplicity of diligence is often rewarded
with leadership opportunities.
C. Diligence versus the “Get Rich Quick Scheme”
As if written for our generation,
there is a stark contrast to diligence.
Notice the reward of those who try to profit by some "get rich
quick" scheme. Read it for yourself
in Proverbs 20:21; 21:5; 28:20,22. The
destructiveness of the get rich scheme is the attitude involved. It is a mental outlook which quickly brings
poverty, Proverbs 2l:5b. 28:22. The "get rich quick" attitude
corrupts good practice. Proverbs
28:22. The word "to haste"
describes one who is "unbridled...not the master of himself."
(Delitzech, Proverbs, p.65) This person
ends up with an "evil eye" towards others. In the field of law these kind are the
"ambulance chasers." They act
like vultures who look at others as prey to take their money. Proverbs condemns this attitude.
D. Diligence versus Laziness
As greatly as diligence is extolled,
sluggardliness is ridiculed. Most
frequently the consequence of being lazy is poverty. Proverbs 6:6-11; 20:4,13; 24.30-34. The lazy prefers just a little more sleep to
hard work. When he finally gets up and
gets going it is not to perform quality work, for Proverbs 10:4 tells us that
he is a negligent worker. A sluggard would
not make a good employee.
It is important to note that the
poverty of the lazy is not the result of a lack of resources but due to failed
use of opportunity. In Proverbs 24:30-34
we see that the sluggard possesses a vineyard, yet fails to use it. It is similar to Proverbs 12:27 where it is
presumed he shot his game, but fails to clean, roast, and eat it. The advantages and opportunities given a lazy
person are wasted.
The sluggard therefore becomes hungry,
Proverbs 19.15. His problem could lead
to a lack of quality in life, or Proverbs 21:25 possibly even indicates a premature
death! Laziness is a serious problem.
The ways of the sluggard bring shame,
Proverbs 10:5. Servitude is his
future. The sluggard should never be in
management because he has never learned to manage himself, Proverbs 12:24. He should not be trusted in business because
he will cause disaster, Proverbs 18:9.
In Solomon's position as King he must
have had the opportunity to see all kinds of people and evaluate the
consequences of character. The lazy go
hungry, don't use their God-given talents, are on their way to a premature death, bring shame, miss
management opportunities, and bring destruction to one's business. Solomon describes a bitter life for the lazy.
3. The Work Ethic
While the focus of many universities
and business colleges has finally turned to ethics in the marketplace, Proverbs
has spoken to those in business for centuries.
No matter what our work, two basic principles directing our professional
conduct are clearly stated: Honesty and
diligence. These characteristics should
follow the follower of the Lord.
