Proverbs about work
Proverbs honors steady, skilled, diligent work and warns that laziness leads to want. It also puts work in God’s hands: commit your deeds to him (Proverbs 16:3).
6Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; 7which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 8provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
The ant works without a boss and plans ahead. A “sluggard” is someone who keeps putting things off.
He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
Effort matters. Diligence tends toward plenty; laziness toward lack.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
Work produces something; talk alone does not.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Skill gets noticed. Doing your work well is its own witness.
Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.
Commit your work to God. This is trust, not a guarantee that every plan goes your way (see 16:9).
Try this week
At the start of each workday this week, say Proverbs 16:3 and name the one task you most want to do well.
With your kids
The same wisdom, for children 4 to 10: Day 6: Learn from the ant; Day 20: Kids are known by what they do.