others have labored and you

"Wise Up About Work"
* Avg person works 150,000+ hrs in lifetime (40%) -- no wonder Solomon speaks much about work throughout Prov
- Principles apply whether working outside or inside home, w/ or w/o paycheck
- Lots of dissatisfaction about work in our culture -- not supposed to be like that despite curse of God in Gen3
- Work being more difficult under curse does not mean work no longer good
- Col3:23, Eph4:28
* Wrong views about work
- Workaholism {Prov23:4, Ps127:2} (working lots not same as working hard)
- Protestant work ethic -- moral positive in work
- Laziness {Prov6:6-11, 26:13-16} -- leads to disgrace {Prov10:4-5}, poor habits {Prov12:27}, and poverty {Prov20:4, 24:30-34}
- Not all poverty due to laziness
- Desire to get rich quick {Prov28:20, 12:11, 13:11} -- motivated by envy and/or greed
- Gambling equal to get rich quick scheme; poor disproportionately affected by gambling
* Godly view of work (turning curse into blessing)
- Diligence {Prov10:4, 12:24}
- Integrity/honesty {Prov11:1, 13:11}
- Provision: God supplies our needs {Prov6:6-8}
- Respect: God brings us honor {Prov22:29}
- Satisfaction: God gives us contentment {Prov13:4, Eccl5:18}
* Summary
- God provides for us
- God uses work to make us more like Christ
- God uses work for opportunities to reach others for Christ