Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

The Blessing Of Work, The Cursing Of Talk

There is a blessing that comes with doing. God created us to work. Even in Eden, though it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31), and perfect according to God’s standards, God gave us work. God told Adam and Eve:

Genesis 1:28 … Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion …

And specifically:

Genesis 2:15 … the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Ken Mathews notes in the New American Commentary on Genesis:

“{Pagan} accounts of human creation typically show how human beings were created for the purpose of work, but there human beings work to supply food for the selfish, lazy gods. Divine travail over their incessant labors is relieved by the creation of a human workforce. In contrast the biblical account portrays God as Provider for man’s needs, a part of which is the honorable, meaningful labor of tilling the soil. Life without work would not be worthy of human beings.” (pg 209)

God works, so we should work. When questioned as to why He healed people on the Sabbath, Jesus said:

John 5:17 (NKJV) … My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.

God works, and we are made in His image, so we should work.

When Jesus wanted to prove that He was the Messiah, He pointed to His works. Jesus said:

John 5:36 (NKJV) … I have a greater witness … for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

How do we KNOW that Jesus is the one and only Messiah? Because He did the works of the Messiah – His works proved His worth. We cannot judge the heart of any person, not even Jesus. But we can see in the WORKS that He is the Messiah. Jesus said:

John 10:37-38 (NKJV) If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

Jesus Christ was not the Messiah because He worked, but He was the Messiah because His works were those of the Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah because He is God incarnate. His works proved that. Christians are not Christians because they work, we are Christians because God the Holy Spirit has made us so. But others know we are Christians because our works glorify the God Who saved us.

Jesus often alluded to His works as proof of His Messiahship. He said in

John 14:11 (KJV) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a DUCK. We know that Abraham was a believer in Christ because of his works. The Scripture says:

James 2:21-26 (ESV) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Had Jesus come to this earth declaring Himself to be Messiah, but never did the work of Messiah, He would have been no different from the other purported messiahs that roamed the earth at the same time. Mohamed proclaimed himself to be Messiah. Joseph Smith declared himself to be Messiah. Jim Jones declared himself to be Messiah. Yet only Jesus did the work of the Messiah.

Christians, like Christ, are commanded to work for the glory of God (if you are a Christian). The Bible says:

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

The Christian “SERVES” or WORKS FOR the Lord Jesus Christ. When we as believers work, we do not work “to be people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord” (Colossians 3:22). When we work, we work so as to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:16). God says:

Psalm 50:23 (ESV) The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!

Those who are saved, WORK AS IF THEY ARE SAVED. Then there are others who just talk about being saved, but never live for Jesus.

Proverbs 14:23 (KJV) … the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Word Study: The word translated “PENURY” is the Hebrew maḥsôr (pro. Makh-sore’), which means poverty or want. There are many people who talk a good Christian life, but when they die they will end up in eternal poverty. As the old saying goes, “talk is cheap”. You say you are saved by Grace, through faith in Christ. What proof do you show of this salvation? Those who are saved live by the two Great Commandments:

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV) … Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The salvation of the soul that does not bring a changed heart will show outwardly by selfish works. Jesus illustrated this in:

Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV) When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

We May Be Hated, But We Must Stand True To God’s Word

Proverbs 14:24-25 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

Word Study: The “WISE” (Hebrew ḥāḵām) person is the one who heeds and obeys the Word of God. These people have riches, perhaps not on this earth, but in glory. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The wise person, the believer who loves the Lord, will one day receive a crown of glory that will not fade away (1 Peter 5:4). The fool who rejects the Word of God, mocking the Master, will only have the crown of eternal folly. Their foolishness will multiply on the earth, and be eternal when they leave this life for the next.

A true witness delivereth souls

Christians are called to be “TRUE WITNESSES”. We only “DELIVER SOULS” when we affirm what God has said, regardless of our own desire.

Christians are to speak the Word that God has given us, without addition or subtraction. The Bible places a high value on truth. The Ninth Commandment states:

Exodus 20:16 (ESV) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

God wants us to speak TRUTH, His TRUTH, to everyone.

Illustrate: When I pass by a Church and see on a sign that its Pastor is a woman, my first thought is “Is this endorsed by the Scripture?” Personally I don’t care what others do, BUT I do care what God has said. Always ask yourself, “What does God’s Word say”? Let’s look at the Book, not at the Church sign nor what the ACLU or some liberal denomination states. What does the BIBLE say?

1 Timothy 3:1-2 (KJV) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife …

Titus 1:5-7 … (KJV) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,

The Pastor in the Scripture is given several different titles:

Pastor or Shepherd (Ephesians 4:11)
Bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-2)
Overseer (1 Peter 5:1-2; Acts 20:17, 28)
Elder (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17, 28)

The New Testament does NOT record any women serving as Apostles, Evangelists or Overseers/ Bishops/ Pastors.

When the Apostle spoke of the order of Creation, he writes:

1 Timothy 2:12-13 … I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

The arguments for women being ordained into Pastoral roles are all based on human reasoning, not Biblical counsel. When women are assigned roles as Pastors though the Scripture itself does not support it, then this opens the door to other teachings that are based on human traditions and philosophies. In every instance where people depart from Scripture to put their own twist on things, they ignore The Golden Rule of {Biblical} Interpretation:

“When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at it’s primary, ordinary, usual meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” (Dr. David L. Cooper, founder Biblical Research Society)

It is God, not man, Who qualifies the Pastor, as it is God Who gives the Biblical offices. “He {God} gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ {the church}, till we all come in the UNITY OF THE FAITH”. (Ephesians 4:11-13). When Israel got away from God, the Lord commanded them to REPENT and return to Him. He said to His people:

Jeremiah 3:14-15 (KJV) Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

God establishes the office of Pastor – not us. When we begin to set our own rules, we walk down a dangerous pathway. The Christian is to be “not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Though it may see reasonable by the standards of humanism, God establishes what is right or wrong – not us. We are to be careful to follow His Word faithfully. The true Pastor will adhere to the qualifications of the office, and to the Word of God above all else.

Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

No one is blessed when we depart from the Word of God. Those in ungodly lifestyles are not blessed by the deceitful witness. Those who are enabled to do ungodly things are not blessed by the deceitful witness. Beloved, the strength of living is found in the fear of the Lord.

The Fear Of The Lord

Proverbs 14:26-27 (KJV) In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Knowing that you are living the life your Creator designed you for builds confidence. When you live to honor the One Who saved you, you know that He will honor your life, and protect you as you go forward. A good picture of this is found in the New Testament ministry of Paul and Silas. Thrown in prison for sharing the Gospel, we are told that:

Acts 16:23-27 (NKJV) when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

Having been beaten by their accusers, Paul and Silas were put in stocks, a miserable way to be, and placed in the deepest part of the prison. Yet as they were held they focused on prayer and praising God. When God caused the doors to open, and the chains to fall off of the prisoners, neither Paul nor Silas nor any of the prisoners tried to escape.

They were worshiping the Lord!

When the Philippian Jailer started to kill himself, Paul cried out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all still here”. Seeking Paul and Silas out, the Jailer simply asked:

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (vs 30)

The fear of the Lord caused Paul, Silas, and the other prisoners to keep their eyes on the Lord, and not on their condition. They found refuge in God. The fear of the Lord keeps us from making bad decisions. It is:

Proverbs 14:27 … a fountain of LIFE, to DEPART from the SNARES of death …

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin is a trap, a snare, an outward behavior that reflect the inward status of the heart. Nothing good comes from following sin. We cannot make peace with sin, and not make war with God.The Matthew Henry Commentary notes:

“The fear of the Lord is here put for all gracious principles, producing gracious practices. 1. Where this reigns it produces a holy security and serenity of mind. There is in it a strong confidence; it enables a man still to hold fast both his purity and his peace, whatever happens, and gives him boldness before God and the world. … 2. It entails a blessing upon posterity. The children of those that by faith make God their confidence shall be encouraged by the promise that God will be a God to believers and to their seed to flee to him as their refuge, and they shall find shelter in him. … 3. It is an over-flowing ever-flowing spring of comfort and joy; it is a fountain of life …

I have noticed that people will slow down on the highway when they see a police car. We fear a ticket. Fire warms us, and gives us light. But fire can burn your home down. We fear fire. I and my family loved visiting Yellowstone may years ago, and often camped out there. We were warned to stay away from the wild buffalo that wandered through the park, and to avoid leaving food out lest the bears be attracted to our camp site. We fear buffalo and bears. We stayed on the marked pathways, because we were warned there was hot springs that people could fall into, being boiled to death. We feared the hot springs. We love electricity, for it enables our appliances to wash our dishes, our clothes, to cook our food. But I never work on light switches or outlets without turning off the power, for I fear electrocution.

We fear lots of things that we love, and rightly so. Should we not fear the God Who made us, and saved us? Absolutely! We should fear offending Him more than anything else we fear. God can not only take your life, but He can make your life miserable if you are flippant with Him.

It is a fool who has no fear of God!

May God the Holy Spirit guide you in applying His Word to your life.