September was the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a financial services firm. The collapse represented the largest bankruptcy filing in U. S. history and it became a harbinger helping to usher in the current economic crisis. This September, to mark the one year anniversary of Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the New York Times ran a series entitled “What We’ve Learned.”[1] The Times asked leading economists to reflect on what lessons we have or should have learned as a result of the past twelve months of national and global financial turmoil. In the articles, the economists shared the lessons they’ve distilled from these monetary circumstances.
That series is a good example of the way in which the book of Proverbs came about. Many of the proverbs are the result of an author reflecting upon circumstances, observing situations, and then distilling lessons from them. As we heard last Sunday morning, the authors of Proverbs reflected upon three major situations: 1) situations where people used words wisely and where people used words foolishly, 2) situations where people loved the right woman and where people loved the wrong woman, and 3) situations where people approached finances correctly and where people approached finances incorrectly.[2] Thus, among other things, the authors of Proverbs were experts in examining financial circumstances and learning lessons from them. Those lessons are the basis of our current series “Real Economic Recovery.” We’re looking at three ways to survive and even thrive during financially stressful times. Last Sunday we explored the need to treasure what money cannot buy. This morning we explore a second key to economic recovery: getting the right perspective on hard work.
One sub-theme of that runs through Proverbs when it comes to financial lessons learned is the theme of hard work. These authors devoted themselves to reflecting on the relationship between hard work and income, and between the lack of hard work and the lack of income. This morning, we’ll explore three proverbs which meditate on the topic of hard work. Then we’ll ask what these three proverbs might teach us in the midst of our financial crisis.
Let’s start with Prov. 10:4: Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Prov. 10:4 TNIV). The literal translation is this: A slack palm makes poverty; a determined hand makes rich.[3] The proverb is exploring a person who will not work hard versus a person who will work hard. It uses the images of hands. The word “hands” in “lazy hands” is literally the word “palm,” referring to an open and useless hand.[4] The image stands for someone who is lazy, someone who will not work hard. The proverb tells us that the only thing a lazy hand earns is poverty.[5] A lack of hard work will result in a lack of income. Alternatively, “diligent hands bring wealth” or “a determined hand makes rich.” Here the word that is translated “hand” refers to that part of the body that goes from the elbow to the fingertips. It stands for a hand braced for vigorous work.[6] The image is of someone who labors to accomplish something.[7] In other words, hands that do not work hard earn nothing. Hands that do work hard earth something.
Here’s a second proverb about hard work: Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Prov. 13:11 TNIV). A literal translation of the first part of the proverb is this: Wealth gotten by a breath shall be diminished… “Breath” refers to methods of gaining money that are quick, methods that don’t require work. They may include robbery, violence, and dishonest means. [8] “Breath” here refers to “easy money” gained without effort.[9] Speculation and gambling are examples of attempts to accumulate wealth without effort. [10] We could translate “breath” as “windfall.” It refers to a person hoping for a windfall—a large amount of wealth they had to do little to acquire.[11] On the other hand, “whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Patient and hard work over time builds wealth.[12] The contrast is between get-rich-quick schemes and the slow, methodological accumulation of income.[13] It’s a contrast between trying to get something for nothing and actually working for something. The author says that “dishonest money dwindles away” while money gained through hard work will grow. Why? This is probably a reference to the way in which money gained by “windfall” and without honest work will probably be spent recklessly on luxuries, speculations, and illegal ventures.[14] What is gained quickly and effortlessly will be spent in the same way and thus will dwindle away. What is earned through hard work, however, will be treasured and spent carefully, so that it will likely grow.
Finally, let’s consider Prov. 21:17: Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. (Prov. 21:17 TNIV). Literally, the proverb says, Those who love pleasure end up lacking; those who love wine and oil will not grow rich.[15] “One who “loves pleasure” is one who overindulges in material comforts. Such a person becomes poor. In other words, the proverb teaches that the more you spend on pleasure the less resources you have for other things.[16] In the same way, the one who loves “wine and oil” will never be rich. “Wine and oil” were used in luxurious banquets. Wine would lubricate the guests’ throats; oil would lubricate their skin. Both oil and wine would cool and refresh guests.[17] “Oil” could also be a reference to cosmetics and perfume.[18] The proverb is saying that if you spend your hard-earned money on these kinds of indulgences, eventually you will run out of money and be in financial ruin. [19]
Clearly the issue of money and hard work are of great interest to the writers of Proverbs. They believed there was much to learn by observing what happened to people who did work hard and what happened to people who did not work hard. And while there are many lessons to draw just from these three proverbs, I’d like to focus specifically on what lessons they teach in light of the difficult economic times we find ourselves in.
The present economy brings with it certain temptations. I’d like to focus on three of those temptations which I believe are addressed by the three proverbs we’ve explored. The first temptation presented by our challenging economy is this: Entitlement—I Deserve a Handout. Things are so tough right now for so many people that it may be tempting for us to give in to the voice of entitlement, a voice which says “I deserve a handout.” It’s appealing to think that the way I’m going to recover from this economy is to get a much needed and much deserved handout.
I’ll explain why I think this could be a temptation. Jean Twenge is the author of a book Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever.[20] Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, lists characteristics of 18-30 year olds. She calls them the “me generation.” Here are some of the characteristics of this group: 1) an it’s-all-about-me-attitude toward life and work, 2) an entitlement mentality, and 3) unrealistic expectations (I want to be the boss, I want to start out with the top salary, I want a lot of time off, I don’t want to work hard). In other words, many young Americans today feel they are entitled to a stable income without having to work for it.
But we can’t just point the finger at the kids. Author David Goesch suggests that the fault for the entitlement attitude among young Americans is their parents.[21] Parents of this generation were part of “the greatest generation” and lived through the poverty of the Great Depression. They were determined that their children should never have to suffer the stress, want, and adversity they themselves suffered. They thus gave everything possible to their children, and the children eventually came to expect everything.
The point is that we have raised generations of children who, as adults, feel entitled to hand-outs. And one of the temptations in this current economic crisis is to act on that feeling, to believe that “I am entitled to a hand-out; I am entitled to someone else getting me out of my financial difficulties.”
But in contrast to that type of thinking is the observation of these proverbs regarding hard work. And they provide a corrective to this temptation. If the first economic temptation is Entitlement—I Deserve a Handout, then here’s the first Economic Corrective from Proverbs: If You Wait for a Hand Out, You’ll Wind up With Nothing. At a basic level, Proverbs reminds us of the importance of hard work. Specifically, Prov. 10:4 contrasts two different “hands.” It suggests that the lazy hand—the hand that won’t work hard and is looking for a handout—will remain empty. But the hardworking hand will eventually reap the reward of hard work. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t provide resources for those who are hurting financially. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong to receive financial help. It doesn’t mean that just because a person is poor we can assume they are lazy. And it doesn’t mean that just because you work hard, things will be financially easy. Still, it is important to hear the prophetic voice of this proverb. There may be a temptation in this season of bailouts, stimulus packages, and increased government spending to believe that the best stance to take is that with palm open, waiting for whatever help we believe we are entitled to. But Proverbs warns us that this is likely only to result in a continued mess. Proverbs calls us back to the discipline of hard work.
There is, I believe, a second temptation brought by our current economic crisis. It is the opposite of the first temptation. The first temptation is a temptation to not work hard at all. The second temptation is a temptation to work very hard, but for the wrong reason. Here it is: Idolization—I Work Hard So I Can Possess Stuff. Some of us may face the struggling economy with a lazy hand, expecting a hand out. Others of us face the economy with a diligent hand, a hand that is ready to work harder than ever before. But Proverbs warns we may be working hard for the wrong reason. One of the consequences of the tight financial times is that some of our stuff is now missing. Those who have lost jobs or partial salaries have had to give up all kinds of stuff—gym memberships, vacations, second homes, a better TV, a new phone, etc. This can be very painful. One of the consequences of this pain is that it leads us to believe that we need to get that stuff back. So we engage in hard work so that whatever stuff we’ve lost we can gain back.
The reason these tight financial times have created such turmoil is that we in America are, in the words of Eugene McCarraher, converts to the “Gospel of Work.”[22] MCarraher argues that Christians and non Christians alike in America adhere to a Gospel of Work in which hard work is viewed as a virtue because it allows us to gain the stuff we think we need to be happy in life. Hard work is idolized in this country. Not because of any virtue of its own. But because it allows us to get all those things we long to get. And when that stuff is taken away, or threatened, by a financial downturn like the one we are now in, we work very hard so that we can get that stuff back.
But Proverbs allows us to gain a better perspective. Proverbs extols hard work, but not for the same reason we Americans extol hard work. Proverbs provides this correction: The More I Pursue Stuff The Less I Possess Stuff. Proverbs reminds us of that strange twist: if we work hard so that we can spend what we earn on luxuries and wants, we will eventually outspend our income and wind up with nothing. Prov. 21:17 warns that if we love pleasure, if we love luxuries and conveniences, and indulge in them, we will eventually become poor. Proverbs cautions us against idolizing hard work as a means to getting stuff. And in these hard financial times, that is a needed caution.
Let’s explore a third and final temptation regarding hard work which we may face in these challenging times. We not only face the temptation to not work hard and expect a handout. We not only face the temptation to idolize working hard so that we can get our stuff back. But we also face this potential temptation: I Will Do Anything for Financial Recovery. If ever there was a time to be tempted to cut corners, to slide into grey areas, to consider something questionable just to make ends meet, just to take care of some debt, now is that time. When resources are restricted and demand is high, that’s a recipe likely to lead to dishonesty and ungodly behavior. For example, in November 2003, a sale on DVD players at a Florida Wal-Mart created a rush of shoppers that apparently resulted in a woman being trampled.[23] One woman Patricia VanLester, was at the Wal-Mart to purchase one of the $29 DVD players. When the siren blared at 6 a.m. announcing the start to the post-Thanksgiving sale, VanLester was apparently knocked to the ground by the shoppers. Paramedics arrived and found VanLester on top of a DVD player and surrounded by indifferent shoppers. How did this happen? The resources were limited—there were only so many $29 DVD’s. And the demand was high. This led people to do things they might not ordinarily do—do anything to get what they wanted—even hurt another human. But the story doesn’t end there. It was later discovered that VanLester, the injured woman, had a history of these types of situations. VanLester had collected thousands of dollars from several previous alleged incidents of injury. Apparently resources were so restricted and demand so high that VanLester herself did whatever she could to get one—even faking being a trampled victim. In this current economic climate, we might be tempted to lie to bill collectors, to take more office supplies home, to lie on a resume just to get a job, or any number of shady behaviors.
But Proverbs once again provides a corrective: it suggests that Those Willing to Do Anything May Lose Everything. Prov. 13:11 warns that those who try to gain money and material possessions in disreputable ways will end up with nothing to show for their dishonesty. Get-rich-quick schemes, dishonesty, swindling, cutting corners—all of these, according to what the authors of Proverbs have seen—ultimately cannot fulfill long-term financial goals. It still takes honest hard work over time to achieve any kind of financial stability.
Proverbs gives us a pragmatic reason for not doing whatever it takes to pay the bills. But Scripture as a whole provides an even more significant reason. We don’t take matters that far into our hands because we trust our Father. Jesus taught us in his Sermon on the Mount to seek God, not stuff, and to trust God would provide the rest. And one of the last things Jesus said before he died was “Into your hands I commit my spirit” – a prayer of absolute faith in God. We do not take financial matters into our hands to the extent that we become dishonest and ungodly. Instead, we entrust those matters into God’s hands. As important as honest hard work is, there is something even more important, honest hard faith and trust in God. Let’s sing about that now…
[1] http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/what-weve-learned-series/.
[2] Tremper Longman III, How to Read Proverbs (IVP Academic, 2002).
[3] Tremper Longman III Proverbs Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms (Baker Academic, 2006), 231.
[4]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), Pr 10:1-5.
[5] Bruce Waltke, The Book of Proverbs Chapters 1-15, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Eerdmans, 2004), 454-455.
[6]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), Pr 10:1-5.
[7] Waltke, 455.
[8]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), Pr 13:1-13.
[9] Waltke, 561.
[10]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), Pr 13:1-13.
[11] Waltke, 561.
[12]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co., 1996), Pr 13:1-13.
[13] Longmann, 287.
[14] Waltke, 561.
[15] Longmann, 395.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Waltke, 15-31, 181.
[19]James E. Smith, The Wisdom Literature and Psalms (College Press, 1996).
[20] Jean Twenge, Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Misearable Than Ever (Free Press, 2007).
[21] David Goetsch, Taking Your Faith to Work (American Vision, 2008), 59-61.
[22] Eugene McCarraher, “The False Gospel of Work,” The Christian vision Project, Christianity Today International, http://www.christianvisionproject.com/2006/07/the_false_gospel_of_work_1-print.html.
[23] “Woman Knocked Over by Trampling Shoppers,” CNN.com (11-29-03); “Trampled Shopper Is Injury Prone,” CBSnews.com (12-5-03).
