stephen R Harrison

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. -Proverbs 10:21

My dad used to say, “A man’s word is his bond.”  He always tied work and words together. It had to do with Colossians 3:17, “In whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” My dad believed a man was created to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:8) and to work (Genesis 2:15). He was quick to point out (usually when I had chores to do) that work was created before the Fall, so work was not sinful. Sin made work hard (3:17-19), but it was not, in essence, sinful. Our words are connected to our work. Through our words, we promise work displayed through our work. As godly men, we make commitments for which we must follow through. We offer something through our words we must deliver through our work. 

When I was a kid, my neighbor asked me to help him split wood. He fell a couple of trees and asked if I wanted to make some spending money. All I had to do was show up and stack the wood he split according to his way. I showed up the first day but was late and lazy the second. I still expected to get paid even though I was not living up to my commitment to my neighbor. My dad saw my inaction and half-hearted wood stacking and made me redo several stacks. My poor workmanship was a poor reflection of the character he instilled in me. It was an inadequate representation of my dad’s character. It misrepresented the God he served and His divine nature. My work evidenced the integrity of my word. If my work was sloppy, so were my words. If my work couldn’t be trusted, then neither could my words.

In Proverbs 10, King Solomon provides several adages about our words and work. When it comes to work, we must do so to gain material possessions. “Ill-gotten treasures” (2) are those achieved through dishonest means. My dad always said you get money by working, not by begging, borrowing, or stealing. The point of Proverbs 10 is not the product of our work but the integrity in it. How someone works is of more value than what they gain from their work. A person making toothpicks for $10 a day righteously through honesty, diligence, trustworthiness, and reliability gains a better reward than someone swindling $1000 a day from people. A godly man’s reputation and character mean more to him than a paycheck. A Proverbs 10 man works hard and is not lazy (4). He must be prudent (5), disciplined (17a), and teachable (17b). He listens to instructions (5) and walks honestly (6). He does not operate in crooked schemes (9, 23) or squander his earnings on sinful desires (16). A man must have integrity in his work. He trusts the Lord to provide (3) but gathers and saves nonetheless (5).

His words must also have integrity. A Proverbs 10 man values how people remember him and his reputation because it reflects the Lord (7). A Proverbs 10 man speaks blessing, not wickedness (5). His words are life-giving, not life-taking (11). He uses his words wisely to build up those he works with instead of tearing others down or starting fights (13). A Proverbs 10 man does not lie, slander, babble, or gossip (18-19). His words mean something to those who hear them (20). He desires his word to make sense and encourage (21). He offers wise advice and helpful words (31-32), calculating his words so as not to be malicious. Words matter because people matter. Proverbs 10 men have words that match their work and work that matches their words. You don’t have to micro-manage this kind of man because you can trust him. He will do what’s expected and more – his work is his worship. He’s not going to sluff off or cut corners. His work is as sure as his character – a reflection of it – a reflection of God. If this man says he will complete a job on time and for a certain amount, you can consider it done. He’ll do whatever is needed short of sinning to protect his words. His words have substance because they display his God. He dares not misrepresent the One he says he worships through shotty workmanship. His work symbolizes the Creator whose speech was connected to His divine work, speaking everything into existence. A Proverbs 10 man has integrity in both his work and his word.

Questions to Ponder

1. How are your words and work connected?
2. Can you describe how your work is to be worship?
3. What verse stands out the most to you?
4. What other questions came to mind?

Actions to Take

1. Write an example of how your words and work aligned in integrity this past week.
2. Read Proverbs 10 and list your favorite verse on “work” and “words”.

Scriptures to Read

Proverbs 10:4, 10:19, 13:4, 15:4

Prayers to Pray

Jesus, help my words and work be worshipful. I desire them both to have integrity and display your character. You worked to create everything with your words and said it was good. May everything I do in word and work be pleasing to you and done in a manner that matches your great name.