The Nature and Importance of Work

1. Wisdom Sayings – On the Nature and Importance of Work
I. Re-cap and Introduction
II. WisdomSayings
A. “Love work.” Shemaya
Why? In what ways, and for what purposes should we love work? More
generally, what are your views about work - its nature and importance?
(Work is not only necessary but also virtuous. It’s something that must be
done, even if “belowone’s dignity.” Work should be loved. Further, its fruit
leads to even greater enjoyment, such as time and opportunity to study and
material comforts and supports, as well as the pleasure of avoiding poverty
and certain vulnerability and the burden of slothfulness and idleness.
Certain work that is prominently featured in our sacred text clearly gives
guidance to people of faith about the nature and importance of work. God
worked for six days and rested and found the product of his work good and
very good.So should we.)
B. “Great is toil: it honors the toiler.” Rabbi Yehuda

2. 1. What does this add to our understanding?
(Work is more than good.It is honorable, and it honors the one who works.)
2. How? Why?
(We tend to think work is humdrum, a means largely or exclusively to earn
a living, to pay for necessitiesor at the other extreme to become rich.
This idea pushes us to look forintrinsic value:
a) We better understand the world through working in it, and this
understanding helps us better live;
b) We work with others, and through doing so, we get a better
understanding of others and how to live with them in harmony;
c) We serve others in work, practicing ways to love others, especiallythose
we are able to help (either those who benefit from what we create or those
who benefit from the income we earn from it);
d) We are creative in helping build/make the world, as God was; and
5) There is a pleasure associated with constructive work that we would
miss in the absence of work.
All of this makes work great, and honors the worker.)
C. “Who teaches his son no trade, guides him to robbery.” Rabbi Yehuda

3. Explain.
(If we don’t promote work successfullyto the next generation, we rob them,
first, of this honor, leaving them diminished in all the ways we discussed as
contributing to honor. More broadly, they’re thus impoverished and may
feel the need to live off of others in all these respects. More narrowly,
lacking the means to work and support themselves, they may be tempted
to robberyof money, etc., thus, committing theft and other crimes.)
D. “The day is short, the task is abundant, the laborers are lazy, the wage
is great, and the Master is insistent. You are not required to complete the
task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it.” Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:20-21
The wisdom here extends way beyond the mere world of physical work, but
it certainly includes it. What does it teach, at various levels, about life,
service to God and others, and, indeed, our attitudes about work?
(Discussion)
E. “The sluggard’s path is like a hedge of thorns, while the way of the
upright is smoothed down.” Proverbs 15:19
1. What does it mean that a sluggard’s path is like a hedge of thorns?

4. (Discussion)
2. What are the consequences ofour path becoming like a hedge of
thorns?
(Discussion)
3. Given that the Hebrew word for upright could also mean conscientious,
straight, or also right, what do you think it likely means that the path of the
“upright” is “smoothed down?”
(Discussion)
F. “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but from the strength of
an ox comes abundant harvests.” Proverbs 14:4
Do you see how this proverb simply but profoundly captures several
features of the nature of work? Why might we think there is a benefitfrom
not working? What’s a strong response to that position?
(Discussion)

5. G. “A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city and like a lofty wall - in his
imagination.” Proverbs 18:11
1. Is wealth helpful/good orunhelpful/bad, or both? Explain.
(Discussion)
2. What does your answer reveal about the value we should place on
work? What are the limits to wealth’s value?
(Discussion)
H. “Know well the appearance of your sheep; give thought to the herds.
For wealth is not forever, nor does a crown endure generation after
generation. When grass disappears and verdure appears, and the grasses
of the hills are gathered, there will be sheep for your clothing and goats -
the price of a field; and enough goat’s milk for your food,the food of your
household, and provisions for your maidservants.” Proverbs 27:23-27.
What’s the wisdom here? What does this teach us about the best purposes
of work and the balance we create in our lives around work?
(Discussion)

6. I. Let’s read these verses from Chapter 31 in Proverbs:
10b “A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

7. 24She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
1.Look at verses 13-18. There’s profound wisdom about the best features
of work in each verse.
a) In 13, what’s the meaning that this virtuous woman selects the wool and
flax, and works with eager hands?
(Discussion)
b) In 14, how do you explain the comparison to merchant ships that bring
food from afar?
(Discussion)

8. c) In 15, we see that she gets up during the night, feeds her family, and
provides for all those who work for her. What does this show us? How is it
important?
(Discussion)
d) In 16, we see that she considers a field, buys it, and out of her earnings,
plants a vineyard. There are several ideas here. What are they? How do
they add to our understanding?
(Discussion)
e) What’s important in verse 17?
(Discussion)
f) How does verse 18 add to our knowledge from verse 15?
(Discussion)
2. Verses 20-21 add a new idea. Explain.

9. 3. Verses 25-29 wrap up this remarkable depiction of a woman of valor.
What do we learn?
a) Specifically, what does it mean that she laughs at the days to come?
(Discussion)
b) Given what we’ve learned about the meaning of wisdom and the goal of
Proverbs and these other wisdom sayings, what do we learn of importance
about this virtuous woman in verse 26? What does it teach us also about
work and its role and purpose in life?
(Discussion)
III.Conclusion - takeaways