Proverbs 18

There are two verses I want to key on from Chapter 18 today. One is verse nine. It reads:

"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." (NIV)

I know I have been convicted by this verse. The term work can apply to anything. It is not limited to a job. Remember the Bible cannot be viewed with such a narrow scope. So, what is one's work?
Sure there's the job. Later in the Bible we are encouraged to work as unto the Lord. Commitment is very important here. Be slack here and your company could crumble...no matter what your position.
Then there is work at home. If you are the keeper of the home this is your "work". Anyone question how important the work of the stay-at-home parent is? I spend more time away from home during the week than I do at home but the time I spend there can be made the best hours of my day by my wife.
How about being a parent? It's a job. Probably the most important one any of us will hold. Being slack as a parent can destroy a young life and we've all seen it. Disengaged parents destroy their children. Look in any prison around the country and you will find the vast majority of inmates are the product of slack fathers...or absent...which is slack.
Then there's the work of Believers. This work involves serving others with whatever gifts God has given us. As a good friend of mine said, it does not involve everyone "converting" the unsaved...not directly anyway. See, we bring people to Christ by living His example; not by beating folks over the head with Christ's words.
This is why I am more and more aware of the need to live the life God planned for me. Each day I realize that the events of that day are all relevant...all important. And that each event presents an opportunity to learn, teach and work.

The last verse I want to talk about today is verse 24.
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (NIV)
Anyone care to guess who the "friend" is that sticks closer than a brother? I gotta go with Jesus on this one. See, Solomon covers a lot of things in this chapter but it all comes down to someone that sticks closer than any brother.
I read that as I consider my "work" this day and I realize that I have help in my work. That help is my brother. He tells me I will share in his inheritance. Shortly before he left he said he was "going to prepare a place for me." I can do all the work set before me today and more because of who's on my side.

Gods Speed,Greg