Work & Wisdom

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Proverbs 22:22-23:10 Work and Wisdom Sermon Notes by Pastor Dennis Tuuri for May 25, 2003 The Structure of Proverbs The Formal Introduction 1A Day One – Light; Transcendent Wisdom The “My Son” Introduction 1b-9 Day Two – Division of Firmament; Two Ways , Two Women, Two Kinds of Friends, Two Tongues, Two Approaches to Attaining Wealth and Enjoying Its Blessings The Proverbs of Solomon, First Collection 10-22A Day Three – Firstfruits; First Collection The Words of the Wise 22B-24 Day Four – Sun, Moon, Stars (Heavenly Rulers); Core of Instruction to Make a King From a Prince; Pivot Point – Learn these very well!!! May they be on your lips ( 22:18 )!! The Proverbs of Solomon, Second (Hezekiah’s) Collection 25-29 Day Five – Things That Multiply and Swarm; Proverbs Teem The Sayings of Agur 30 Day Six – Man; Humility; The son has become a wise man. The Sayings of Lemuel 31 Day Seven – Sabbath Enthronement; The King who listened to his mother, and got a queen!! The prince has become a King. The First Four Words- Vertical, Horizontal, Covenantal 1 - No Other Gods (Father) 5 -Honor Father 8 - Don’t Steal 2 - No Idols (Son) 6 - Don’t Kill Brother By Actions 9 - Don’t Kill Brother By Words 3 - No Empty Witness (Spirit) 7 - No Adultery 10 - No Coveting 4 - Work and Sabbath Rest For this pattern, see, for instance, Proverbs 10:23 -27 3 Falls: Adam(ic), Cain, Sethites (Noahic) 3 Recoveries: Abraham(ic) Patience with Father; Jacob Brotherly Kindness , Joseph Holiness Pr, 22:22-23:11, NKJV, 30 Words of the Wise, First Set of Ten “Proverb” – In Place of words Pr 25:2 “ It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. 26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you? 28 Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men. 23:1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; 2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. 4 Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven. 6 Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, nor enter the fields of the fatherless; 11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you. 1. The context for wise work is the first three words and humility. 22:22-27 Prov. 26:12; Isa. 5:21 ; Rom. 12:16 2. A proper motivation is central to wise work. 23:4,5 Prov. 28:20; John 6:27; 1 Thes. 6:8-10 3. Avoiding overworking is necessary to wise work. 23:4,5 4. Godly contentment is a required component of wise work. 22:28 ; 23:10,11 5. Diligence and excellence are required for wise work. 22:29 Prov. 10:4; 12:24 ; Mt. 25:21; Ps. 147:15; Isa. 16:5 6. Control of one’s appetites is necessary for wise work. 23:1-3, 6-8 7. A proper evaluation of others is necessary for wise work. 23:9 Prov. 15:18 8. A sensitivity to the poor is the setting for wise work. 22:22 ,23; 23:10,11 Prov. 17:5; 14:31 ; Prov. 15:25