Work, money and a good name

Would you rather have $1 million but everyone thinks you're a cheat, or normal pocket money and everyone trusts you? Would you rather get an A by copying an assignment (and no one will ever know), or a C you earned yourself? Would you rather be a famous influencer whose life online is fake, or unknown but real?

Most of us say we value honesty. But money, marks and fame pull hard. Proverbs is one of the most practical books in the Bible, and it has plenty to say about work and money. But underneath it all, it keeps asking a deeper question: what are you really living for?

What you'll learn

• What a tiny ant can teach you about work
• Proverbs' wisdom about money: steady, content and generous
• Why a good name is worth more than riches, and how Jesus changes the way we see money

Learn from the ant

"Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest." (Proverbs 6:6–8)

• The ant has no boss standing over it. It does the right thing without being supervised. Working hard when no one is watching is a sign of real character.
• The ant plans ahead. It stores food in summer for later. That's like starting the assignment when it's set, not the night before.

Then Proverbs describes the sluggard, an old word for a lazy person:

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit." (Proverbs 6:10–11)

The sluggard doesn't plan to fail. He just keeps choosing a little more rest. Procrastination works in small steps, just like the two paths in Proverbs 4. Then trouble arrives suddenly, like a robber: the due date comes and nothing is done. Where does "just a little more" show up in your life? Gaming? Scrolling? Sleeping in?

Two important things to remember. First, this is general wisdom, not a rule that poor people are lazy. Proverbs itself says poverty can come from injustice, and that God cares deeply for the poor. Second, Proverbs is against laziness, not rest. God built a day of rest into every week. And the ant is about faithful effort, not about getting top marks.

Money wisdom

Proverbs teaches a wise attitude to money:

"Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied." (Proverbs 13:11)

Slow and steady beats quick and easy. That's the opposite of "get rich quick" influencers, betting ads and loot boxes.

"Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:8–9)

This writer asks for enough. He's worried about being too poor, but he's also worried about being too rich, because he might forget God and think he doesn't need him. That's a very different prayer from always wanting the next phone, shoes or upgrade.

Proverbs also says that generous people end up richer in the ways that matter (Proverbs 11:24–25), and that we should honour God with what we have (Proverbs 3:9).

A good name

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold." (Proverbs 22:1)

A good name means a reputation for being trustworthy. It's built slowly over time by your character. You can't buy it, and it can be lost in one choice. Think about situations like these:

• You could get an AI tool to write your assignment and pass it off as your own.
• In a group project, one person does nothing and wants their name on it anyway.
• At your first part-time job, someone says, "Just take a drink, nobody counts them."
• The canteen gives you $10 too much change.

What would protect a good name in each one?

Christians have another reason to work faithfully. Paul says to do every job, even homework and chores, as if you're working for the Lord, not just for people (Colossians 3:23–24).

Key words

• Sluggard: a lazy person who keeps putting things off.
• Procrastinate: to delay doing something you should do now.
• Content: satisfied with what you have.
• Good name: a reputation for being trustworthy.
• Generous: happy to share what you have with others.

How this points to Jesus

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus had everything, and gave it all up to make us rich in the ways that last: forgiven, adopted by God, with a home forever. When you know you have that kind of treasure, you don't need to grab money or cheat for marks. You can work hard, be generous and keep a good name, because your worth is already settled.

Think about it

Take it further

Choose one area this week where you'll "be the ant": school work, chores, money or honesty. What will you actually do? Your worksheet helps you put Proverbs' money wisdom into your own words.

If you'd like to, you could pray:

Lord Jesus, thank you that you became poor so I could be rich in you. Help me to work faithfully, use money wisely and generously, and keep a good name for your sake. Amen.