Wisdom and Our Work– message #4 in the series The Way of Wisdom

God is honored and I am more likely to succeed in my work when . . . 

1. I am eager to .

⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning, (1:5a, ESV)

⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (9:9, ESV)

¹⁴ A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
while the fool feeds on trash. (15:14, NLT)

¹⁵ Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights. (18:15, MSG)

⁵ Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength. (24:5, GNB)

2. I develop a strong .

²³ Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table. (14:23, MSG)

diligent [ dil-i-juhnt ] 1 constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything. 2 done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking. Synonyms: 1 industrious, assiduous, sedulous. 2 indefatigable, untiring, tireless, unremitting.

 ⁴ A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich. (10:4, ESV)

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (12:24, ESV)

3. I choose not to be a .

sluggard [ sluhg-erd ] 1 a person who is habitually inactive or lazy. 2 a slothful person; an idler. See slug. 1 any of various snaillike terrestrial gastropods having a shell or only a rudimentary one. 2 a slow-moving animal, vehicle, or the like. 3 a person who is lazy or slow-moving.

(1) Do I lack ? Yes No

⁶ Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
⁷ Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
⁸ she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest. (6:6-8, ESV)

(2) Am I when I should be working? Yes No

⁹ How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
¹¹ and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man. (6:9-11, ESV)

¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed. (26:14, ESV)

(3) Do I fail to do the right at the right ? Yes No

⁴ The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (20:4, ESV)

(4) Do I make ? Yes No

¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!” (22:13, ESV)

(5) Do I refuse to put forth even effort? Yes No

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. (26:15, ESV)

(6) Do I think I it ? Yes No

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who can answer sensibly. (26:16, ESV)

4. I do my before I in.

² Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
haste makes mistakes.
³ People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the Lord. (19:2-3, NLT) 

5. I learn to do things .

²⁷ Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house. (24:27, ESV)

²⁷ First plant your fields;
then build your barn. (24:27, MSG)

6. I make my a success.

¹⁸ As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded. (27:18, NLT)

¹⁸ If you care for your orchard, you’ll enjoy its fruit;
if you honor your boss, you’ll be honored. (27:18, MSG)

(1) Very person –  passion

(2) Very person – passion

(3) Very person – passion

(4) Very person – passion

(5) Very person – passion

Source: Gordon MacDonald, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion.

7. I my work to the .

³ Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established (16:3, ESV)