Why did God give us the book of Proverbs?

For example, the New Testament teaches that our work matters to God. Colossians 3:24 teaches that we work for God. “It is the Lord Jesus Whom you serve.” Since we ultimately work for God, how should we work? Proverbs takes this truth and expands it. Proverbs fleshes out this teaching for us. Proverbs warns about the danger of laziness. Proverbs teaches four characteristics of the lazy person.

First, a lazy person does not start their work. Proverbs 22:13 says, “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!” A lazy person allows fear to prevent them from working. They do not start their work. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step. I tell my kids, “The fastest way to finish your work is to start!”

Second, a lazy person does not finish their work. “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 26:15). A sluggard is so lazy he does not even finish eating! They have trouble starting and they have trouble finishing their work.

Third, a sluggard does not listen. You can warn a lazy person but it does no good. “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who give a discreet answer” (Proverbs 26:16). He or she does not receive wise counsel.

Fourth, a person who does not work is often destroyed by their poverty. Proverbs 24:30-31 reads, “I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles; and its stone wall was broken down.” A lazy person sometimes reaches a point that is unrecoverable. They reach a point of no return.

What is the solution? Proverbs gives us the answer! Proverbs is truth that expands and explodes in our minds. Proverbs 6:6 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise….” The ant has much to teach us. An ant is very strong. They can lift 20 times their body weight. If a second grader were as strong as ant, she would be able to pick up a car. Ants are not only very strong. They also work hard.

The author of Proverbs continues, “…which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” Ants are self starters. They don’t have to be told to begin. They are diligent. They plan ahead. Ants are organized. There are 12,000 species of ants and they all work hard! Ants work together. As many as 50,000,000 ants can come together to work as one highly organized efficient colony.

We live in a strange time in America. Our media and elites have abandoned God. Romans 1 teaches that if we abandon God eventually God will abandon us to the consequences of our choices. We dare not abandon God.

We need God’s truth today more than at any other time. We must rise above the lies of our media and focus on God’s truth. Proverbs plays a crucial role in the Bible. It teaches how to please God in the details of life. Proverbs takes truth and expands it. As we meditate and apply the proverbs in this Book our lives will be transformed.

I was tempted to spend $100 at the state fair trying to win a foam animal that expands in water for my wife! Better than a foam animal at the state fair is God’s truth that expands and grows and fills our minds and transforms our lives!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.