Walking with the Wise #514: Do Your Job Well

“As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,


so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.”

—Proverbs 27:18 (NLT)

So many clichés try and depict the workplace: It’s a dog-eat-dog world, kill or be killed, survival of the fittest, etc. But none of them are representations of the Gospel and how God desires we work. People are filled with opinions on how you should do your job—but God’s way is the only way that truly matters.

Today’s proverb highlights the benefit and blessing God places on looking out for your employer. Likening farm hands allowed to eat the fruit of their labor to employees who look out for their employers—the biblical author places emphasis on a very New Testament concept:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”—Philippians 2:4.

Looking after the interests of your employer is not only right in the sight of God, but has a practical benefit to you—that of reward. God will see to it that those who honor others (specifically their employers) will be honored themselves.

Joseph is a great and not so great example of this. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he finds himself working as a household slave, quickly working his way up to become head of the house, second in line only to the master of the house himself. Charged with attempted rape by the master’s wife, even though he was not guilty, he was put in prison. Once again, his character proves his worthiness and he works his way up to be second in charge of the prison. He encounters some of the king’s servants who had some puzzling dreams. Gifted by God, Joseph interprets their dreams—one of them is going to die, while the other is going to return to the king’s service, but Joseph asks that once he returns to the king’s service, don’t forget him, so that he won’t spend the rest of his life in prison. Eventually, one servant dies and the other returns to the king’s service, but forgets about his promise. Time passes, the king has a dream, and the king’s servant tells the king about Joseph. Hearing the king’s dream, Joseph interprets it for him and then gives some wise advice that he didn’t have to give. Impressed, the king promotes Joseph to second in command to all of Egypt, where he, as he did the time before, continues working faithfully.

On one hand, Joseph’s life is the epitome of a dog-eat-dog world—he does his job and gets sent to prison! That, fortunately, is only half the story. The second half of the story shows that goodness and faithfulness to our employer is handsomely rewarded. God was sovereignly orchestrating the events in Joseph’s life to bring glory to His name. And by doing his job well, God rewarded him by making him second in charge over all of Egypt—one of the most powerful kingdoms of the world.

Honor God, be faithful in your work, and don’t let fools try to give you advice on how to do your job. Follow His Word, seek wise counsel, faithfully work for the Lord and not for men, and God will honor you accordingly. Amen.