Proverbs 28:19

¹⁹ He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

¹⁹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

Did any of us make any new year resolutions?  Come on, now, be honest with me . . . did you? Did you determine to work harder, or work smarter, or find more time for the worthwhile things of life?

Well, then, you can go to sleep and not read the rest of this post.

Not.

Seriously, I think we can all use reminders of the need to be diligent and faithful -- to avoid the vain things and vain people of this world. The root of the word translated "follow" up there actually means "to chase after." Perhaps it would be a good thing for all of us to consider . . . what am I chasing after in my life?

Am I chasing after people who are idle and careless, who don't choose to worship our Father and live lives for His glory? Am I chasing after foolish dreams and fantasies, instead of being grateful for the tremendous blessings that He has given me? (Please don't misinterpret here. I'm not talking about the God-given dreams of good and righteous things that we can accomplish for Him; I am talking about pipe dreams and distractions. Things that keep us from focusing on what we can do for Him and for others.)
Many people are consumed with meaningless and empty activities, instead of worthwhile ones. We would do well to get our education and training, to work hard for our families, to give to the Lord's work with wisdom and discernment, and find our joy in God's Word and godly relationships. If we spend countless hours "chasing" frivolous people (on the television or the computer) and wasting our time, we are conforming to the mold that the world would have us fit.
There's an old saying that just really seems to fit here:

Only one life - it will soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last.

But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. I Corinthinans 3:13

Proverbs 27: 23-27 Work hard and work smart (Part II)

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
    give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
²⁵ When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

This is our second day on these verses, because there is so much here for us. Yesterday I noted that Solomon was telling us that " Whether our business is indoors or outdoors, large or small, we must apply our minds and our hearts to it." 
Let's look today at some Biblical reasons for that. 

I think the first thing that this group of verses says to us, is that we should have some business to do in this world, and not live in idleness. On this blog, we try to stay out of the political arena most of the time, but I think in our present day we can see that not everyone wants to work and provide for themselves and their families. Many people are indeed disabled, unemployed, or elderly --- these people need the help of family, friends, or the local church. For those who have not received help from these avenues, some sort of assistance is beneficial. However, we probably all agree that the "system" is being abused by many who are able to work but simply desire to avoid that responsibility; instead of working, they live a life of idleness and survive on government assistance. Christians have a responsibility to support their families, and when they are blessed with more than they need, to use some of it to give others a hand up.

These verses also speak to the issue of knowing our own business, and not meddling in someone else's business! It is wise and well for us to understand what is needed for our particular job to be completed, and to let others do theirs without interference from us. We may think we know the best way for them to complete their tasks, but we can be mistaken -- and the time we take to try to "set them straight," is time taken away from doing our own job well.

Thirdly, we should keep our own eyes on our business, and not turn it over to someone else. Who better to mind the particulars and "inspect our herds" than ourselves? We have the final responsibility for the outcome, so we should shoulder the task, as well.

We must take considerate and thoughtful care of our business, not allowing any opportunity to slip by. It's good to do each task in the proper time and order, and take every advantage that presents itself.

Lastly, we must be diligent and we must take pains with our business opportunities -- not just sitting down and thinking of ways to do things better and more efficiently, but getting up and doing the work that must be done. 

Are you tired yet? Sometimes we think and talk about "working" and "doing" and we get a little apprehensive that we'll not be "up" for the task at hand!  

..and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you . . . I Thessalonians 4:11 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters . . .  Colossians 3:23

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  I Corinthians 15:58

We've been promised that our labor is not in vain . . . let's work harder AND smarter! 

Proverbs 27:23-27 Work hard, and work smart (Part I)

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
    give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
²⁵ When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

(There is so much good for us in this passage that it is pretty overwhelming. I hope that I can do it justice! )

I think that first we should review our knowledge of the people of the times . . . not the wealthy and powerful, like Solomon, but the everyday folks --- like you and me! Most of the everyday folks were farmers or tradesmen; you might say that they were self-employed. Farmers, whether they raised crops or animals, were almost entirely self-sufficient: they produced most everything that they needed to have in order to survive. They built their own houses, and furnished them with simple things. They made their own clothing and raised food in small gardens for their households, often having olive trees and vineyards  for their own use, as well. Picking their produce, pressing the olive oil, and making small amounts of wine for their own consumption were jobs that they willingly did, in order to provide well for their families. 
All of this was in addition to the labor that they did every day, to either tend flocks, raise crops for sale, or craft items for sale in the local marketplace.  Tradesmen carefully worked with their hands to produce items to sell or to barter, to provide for their families and for their later years, when working might not be so easy.

These verses appear on the surface to be directed at those shepherds, husbandmen, and dealers in cattle of the era; they encourage them to give "due diligence" to their callings.  But I feel that this encouragement is to be extended to all callings, great and small. Whether our business is indoors or outdoors, large or small, we must apply our minds and our hearts to it.  

In our day, there is a saying, "don't work harder, work smarter" but I think that Solomon had both in mind here. He gave three reasons for his commands:
          1. First of all, Solomon says, worldly wealth is uncertain. "Riches are not forever" is how he phrases it. He considered the lambs, the flocks, and the crops to be stable commodities, not like metals that can corrode, tarnish or decay.  Present day application? Anyone have any investments in the stock market? Enough said. (Grin)
          2. Secondly, he points out the graciousness of God's providence. "The hay appears," Solomon tells us. How does it appear? Can we control the rain, the sun, the growing season? Nope. Our Father does that.  And it is our responsibility to use those blessings of crops and vineyards -- not to let them go to waste.
          3. Thirdly, Solomon points out what his farmer listeners already knew: there is profit in wise husbandry. The shepherds and farmers would have been well aware of the value of the meat and the clothing that could be gotten from judicious usage of the flock animals. The masters (and mistresses) of families must provide well for themselves and their families, and must realize that plain food and serviceable clothing are sufficient and wise to be used. One need not have fancy or expensive clothing, or rich and dainty food, to be content with his blessings. 

All of these verses encourage us to be careful and industrious about our business, so that we can provide for ourselves and our families.
We'll continue with these verses tomorrow, OK?