The wonderful thing about the Bible is that anyone can gain from its wisdom. Maybe you feel like your parents or grandparents didn’t prepare you for adulthood very well. Perhaps you grew up in a culture where your friends and family didn’t seem to care much for morality or integrity, and you’re confused about what is true and right and honorable. If your parents didn’t help, certainly, the current culture and mores of our society won’t provide any real guidance. It will only make you more bewildered.

Take heart. God’s wisdom is available to all. Even if you’re not (yet) a believer, God’s Word can provide guidance and teach you all about life. It’s not just an ordinary book written over thousands of years by a diverse group of men. It’s the living and active Word of God Himself.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Many would discredit the infallibility of God’s Word, but Peter reminds us that those who wrote these books (both Old and New Testament) were eyewitnesses to what they recorded. It is a trustworthy book, given to us by our Creator who loves us and desires us to enjoy a blessed life (2 Peter 1:16-21).

As I read through Proverbs 10 this morning, several verses jumped out to me as such good wisdom for us as we get up each day to go to work. Work generally involves dealing with people – co-workers, customers, vendors, clients, and our supervisors and managers – people from all walks of life, with all manner of personalities and beliefs. How in the world can we get along with everyone? Isn’t it inevitable that there will be disagreements and conflicts, even to the point of someone walking away, or at least making ourselves or others miserable?

Our work often involves responsibilities we’d rather not bear. There are no perfect jobs, and there will always be things about even the best career that we simply don’t enjoy. And we may not advance as fast as we’d like, or believe our gifts and talents are recognized properly by those around us.

How can we get ahead and prosper in our work?

How can we be successful in our goals?

How can we find joy in our daily work?

Here are just three bits of advice from this chapter (and there are more I could mention). If taken to heart and put into practice, we could change the culture of our workplace and make each day’s work better.

#1 – Be diligent in our duties.

Proverbs 10:4-5;26 – Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely. But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully. … Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.

Henry Ford said, “The first qualification for success in my view is a strong work ethic.” Do a quick search for quotes about work ethic and you’ll find plenty of inspiration from people who had little resources or opportunities but succeeded because they worked hard. You’ll also find many who started with great talent, money, or connections, but have fallen into ruin because they were negligent and lazy.

The world recognizes the value of diligence in our work because it’s a principle established by our Creator. God worked six days to create the world when He could have spoken it all into existence with a mere thought. When He placed Adam and Eve in the garden, he could have designed it so they never had to lift a finger, but simply enjoy its bounty. Instead, He wisely gave them work to do, to care for what He had created. Work is a gift, and we succeed when we are willing to work diligently.

Paul builds on this principle from Proverbs as he admonishes even those who were slaves in his day. His words are good wisdom for every employee, no matter the size of your paycheck. Especially for those who belong to Jesus, we work diligently as if (and we are) working for the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-8 – Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

#2 – Be watchful in our words.

Proverbs 10:19 – When there are many words transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

The Bible speaks much about our words. Consider how many times this topic arises just in Proverbs: words (42x), tongue (18x), mouth (46x), lips (35x). I believe God meant us to pay attention, to be aware of just how powerful our words are. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).

 James says it clearly: And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell (James 3:6).

Learning to restrain our words and speak only what is good, right, and necessary can change our work culture, our relationships, and the trajectory of our lives. Work hard to develop the necessary skill of knowing when to speak, what to say when you do open your mouth, and when to simply be silent. It’s an amazing stage of growth when we realize we do not have to say everything that comes into our minds, even if it’s right. Our co-workers and supervisors will begin to see us as wise and discerning people if we can only learn to restrain our words.

#3 – Be intentional in our integrity.

Proverbs 10:9 – He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

We can’t over-emphasize or underestimate the importance of being a person of integrity. John Maxwell said, “Image is what people think we are; integrity is what we really are.” C.S. Lewis said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

The Hebrew word translated as “integrity” is tōm, meaning completeness, fullness, innocence, morally, uprightly. A word picture comes to mind. When we have been dishonest, we shrink away; we walk with our heads down (or hidden in a hoodie); we fail to look others in the eye because our inner conscience condemns us. In contrast, to walk in integrity, to walk uprightly, is to know we have nothing to hide.

My mama taught me the little rhyme, “Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” How true! Better to be a person of integrity and do the right thing. Your boss and co-workers will thank you, and they will know who to come to when they need a trustworthy person.

Be diligent in your duties.

Be watchful in your words.

Be intentional in your integrity.

Do you want to be successful? Then be wise according to God’s Word.