Proverbs 22:29 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Proverbs 22:29

Comments

This proverb is something positive which Solomon puts here in the middle of all these don’t do this, don’t do that. Some of the modern translations detract from the sense here, but the King James translators, though they are using slightly dated words, are right on the mark with, ‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business?’ Solomon is talking about a man who is diligent and efficient and faithful in what he does. Let us explain it this way. Even Buckingham Palace needs a plumber sometimes, and if somebody recommends to the controller of the household a good plumber he will try him; they have got a lot of plumbing there, miles and miles of it. And let us suppose he does a good job, and he is fast, he does it well, he does not stand around talking. They will have him back, and he may be the regular, on-call plumber, and you never know, he may get a ‘By Appointment’ crest and will put it on the side of his van – ‘By Appointment to her Majesty the Queen.’ Then he will get a lot of business in Kensington and NW1 and all the smart areas of London. Because he got on with the job, he will not have to take on business he does not want from someone shady or difficult person or who will never pay. And he may be mending something in the proximity of her Majesty the Queen, and I dare say she will say to him: ‘How are you? Do you have children?’ (I have heard of this happening.) ‘Yes, I have two boys.’ ‘Oh,’ and when she sees him the next time, ‘How are you two boys?’ So the electrician or the plumber will be appreciated by everyone for whom he does a good job. ‘He shall not stand before mean men.’ He will not have to work for crooks, for shady characters or people of low degree. He can work for the Queen because he turned out to be diligent. He was not a genius, so we will not use the word ‘skilful’ – that is going too far. He was an ordinary man who did well and did not waste time but got on with it and was quick. So, the principle is this: if we work well at what we do spiritually, we will not have to work for crooks.

Application

In the 1950s the elders for the time being of the Metropolitan Tabernacle suddenly felt a wave of insecurity. It was after the war, the Tabernacle was not rebuilt. The services were being held in the basement which was much bigger in those days; it went right to the other outside wall. All kinds of problems lay ahead for them, and the elders for the time being, not being made of the same stern stuff as their predecessors before the war, (or later on after the 1950s) said: ‘We had better re-join the apostate Baptist Union. We will have security if we are in a big denomination.’ No need to think like that, says this proverb. If you do what you should be doing for the Lord, honouring the Scripture diligently, you will not need the crutch of a denomination, a liberal denomination, as if they can help you in any way. You can prove the Lord without that.

Why does a man stay in a compromised denomination? Ah, it is all about security for the future: he would lose his pension. Would you rather avoid interacting with people who do not share your love for the Lord and your belief in the Scriptures, or is your pension is more important? If you are doing the work of the Lord diligently and working diligently as a Christian, you will not need these compromises and these props at all.

The churches are going over to contemporary Christian music and compromising with the world. ‘Oh we have to do this to get any people in. We would not have any young people if we did not do this.’ Well, like the plumber in Buckingham Palace, if they would only preach the gospel and open Sunday schools and operate a working church and pray in their prayer meetings and stay with the Scriptures, they would not need to compromise in that way. They would not need an unspiritual crutch like a denomination or contemporary Christian worship and these things.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Proverbs 22:29 Commentary and Bible Study