Proverbs 12 for Work, Wealth, and Business

To continue with the Proverbs project that I started on the 11th, here is the next offering:

9  -Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
       than pretend to be somebody and have no food.  (NIV)

You have to settle on what you are after in business- prestige or real, honest to goodness money. Do you want people to think you are loaded with cash, honor you, and be in awe of you while you are wondering where you are going to get your next meal or do you want to be doing well enough to have people working for you? Are you willing to sacrifice the accoutrements of self-importance and labor in obscurity for that which brings security to your family or do you insist on pretension and recognition? There are many fancy cars on the highway being driven by people who cannot afford them. They cannot be considered wealthy. They are broke at a higher level of debt.

    11 - He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
         But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense. (NASB)

The NIV calls this pursuit, “chasing fantasies.” There is a big difference in a dream and a fantasy. The kinds of dreams that come true have goals and action plans attached to them and are possessed by people who are willing to work for and toward them. Tilling the soil of success is the key to sorting our worthless pursuits from grand possibilities.

    12 - The wicked man desires the booty of evil men,
         But the root of the righteous yields fruit. (NASB)

If your heart is not right in this area of your life, you will be attracted to unscrupulous schemes and cutthroat maneuvers. However, if you are grounded in right thinking, living, and relationship to your Center (God), you will enjoy real fruit.  The results of doing business the right way (right = righteous) is sweet tasting, juicy success from the tree of life.

14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction;
   well-done work has its own reward. (The Message)

Engage in work that is rewarding in and of itself.

24 -  Diligent hands will rule,
       but laziness ends in slave labor.  (NIV)

You have to work if you want to get ahead. Laziness will not only fail to set you free, but it will get you deeper and deeper in the hole of debt and servitude. Plan your work and work your plan. Do what it takes and see yourself emerge as a leader.

27 The lazy man does not roast  his game,
       but the diligent man prizes his possessions. (NIV)

There is some dispute about translations here, but the bottom line is that lazy people waste whatever they acquire. Imagine ordering 1000 brochures for your business and never giving any of them away. Does that sound outlandish? Of course it does. However, we have all either done it or have known those who have. Take care of business – whatever it is.