Proverbs 22:29. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Have you heard of the “10,000 hour rule?” It states that for a person to master a skill they must put in 10,000 hours of deliberate practice and dedicated training in their task. In other words, being skillful at something takes a long time.
The word skillful here in Proverbs 22:29 can also mean experienced. This person has chosen to work hard at what they do. They have put their energy into becoming proficient, rather than in improving their prospects. They have found purpose in the work itself, not in the position it might lead to. Ironically, this is the person who will stand before kings. The person who sets out to land in a position of glory will likely miss out on the enjoyment of his work. They won’t become as skillful. But the one who is content with their place, working hard to become skillful and experienced, will likely be the one who is promoted.
Wisdom values skill over success. This is the lesson we see throughout Proverbs. God wants us to enjoy our work, and take pride in a job well done, while not worrying primarily about how much money we will make or the awards we may earn doing it. If God gives us opportunity for promotion, to stand before kings, and if the season is right, then praise God. You may have a chance to speak truth to power. To impact more lives for the good. To share your experience with others.
Think about Nehemiah, the cupbearer. How did he find himself standing before the king? How long did it take him to get there? Ten thousand hours? How many “lesser” jobs in the industry did he find himself gritting his teeth through while he honed his skills and proved his trustworthiness? We can be sure that as a Jew in Persia, he was not born into power and position. Likely, he didn’t set out to serve the king. He set out to serve THE King and to be skillful in his work, and God elevated him to a position to do much more than protect the life of Artaxerxes. Nehemiah would lead God’s people home, protecting an entire kingdom.
For the Christian, the principle of this proverb still applies, but there is no promise here. Not all who are experienced and skillful will be promoted. And promotions offered don’t have to be accepted. There are many factors involved in making wise decisions concerning work and career. Timing. Family. Ethics. Ministry.
The truth is, in Christ, we never have to worry about standing before the king. Every believer in Christ is already standing before THE King of Kings. We never have to fret about climbing the ladder of success. In Christ, we are already atop the ladder. Now we must find our way down, not up. Down into the service that work was always meant to be. Serving the creation and the Creator.
All work is a gift from God. All work is worthy of our best efforts, our mastery, our experience. Not to be done as men-pleasers, but as unto the Lord (Eph. 6:5-8). Not to be done in self-promotion, but quietly and peacefully, doing work for the work’s sake, because the work itself is valuable because of the skill it brings, not because the work leads to promotion.
In Christ you have already been promoted. You have been granted an everlasting position. You stand before the King.
You: Do you see your work as a gift from God, or as a means to promotion?
You in Christ: How should our union with Christ motivate our work efforts (skillfulness)?
Christ in you: Are there any attitudes about your work that you need to allow Christ in you to change?
Pray: Father, May I do my work as unto the Lord Jesus, and not as unto men. Give me a satisfaction with my work that only comes as I do it for your glory alone. Amen.
To Live is Christ 