Slides: Ten Traits of Great Workers

By David Feddes

Who gets paid?

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (14:23)

The sluggard’s craving will be the end of him, because his hands refuse to work. (21:25)

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (21:5)

Who gets promoted?

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (12:24 NLT)

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings. (22:29)

He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, 
and he who looks after his master will be honored. (27:18)

Who gets fired?

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (10:8)

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. (10:26)

Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. (22:10)

Great Workers

• Punctual
• Presentable
• Diligent
• Reliable
• Skilled
• Proactive
• Positive
• Cooperative
• Teachable
• Healthy

Punctual

• Be on time. Better yet, be early.
• Use time wisely on the job, or if working at home or self-employed
• Avoid chit-chat, time wasting.
• Control emails and social media.
• Don’t procrastinate.

Presentable
Don’t seem sloppy or sleazy.

• Neat grooming, clean hygiene
• Proper clothing and body language
• Polite in person and on social media
• Correct, clear, clean speech
• Tidy work area

She is clothed in fine linen and purple... She is clothed with strength and dignity. (Proverbs 31:22, 25)

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. (Ephesians 5:4)

Diligent
Hard-working, organized, productive

Lazy hands make a man poor, 
but diligent hands bring wealth. (10:4)

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (12:24 NLT)

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. (13:4)

Reliable

• Be honest and trustworthy. Don’t lie or steal from employer or clients.
• Show up for work every day.
• Do what you’re told to do.
• Do what you say you’ll do.
• Be attentive and attuned to boss.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. (Proverbs 10:26)

Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master. (25:13)

Skilled

• Talents to do the job well
• Solid training and experience
• Ongoing development
• Versatile range of abilities
• Always aiming for excellence

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings. (Prov 22:29)

Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable. (Daniel 1:20)

Reliable and skilled: Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire… He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. (Daniel 6:3-4)

Proactive

• Self-starter works without needing to be cajoled or supervised.
• Go-getter goes beyond requirements and looks for more to do.
• Innovator creatively looks for better ways of doing things.

Potiphar left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate… The warden put Joseph in charge… The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. (Genesis 39)

Positive
Cheerful, enthusiastic, supportive

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might! (Eccl 9:10)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians 3:23)

Cooperative

• Work for the good of the business.
• Listen carefully; follow instructions.
• Speak clearly; spell out expectations.
• Plan together; work with your team.
• Be friendly; don’t quarrel or gossip.

He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, 
and he who looks after his master will be honored. (27:18)

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (15:22)

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. (20:3)

Teachable

• Accept advice and correction.
• Eager to increase strengths and correct faults.
• Adaptable to new tasks and situations.
• Recognize when job/boss is a bad fit and seek a better situation.

Whoever hates correction is stupid. (12:1)

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. (17:10)

Healthy

Vocational fitness interacts with other part of total fitness.

• Spiritual
• Physical
• Financial
• Intellectual
• Emotional
• Relational
• Vocational

Great Workers

• Punctual
• Presentable
• Diligent
• Reliable
• Skilled
• Proactive
• Positive
• Cooperative
• Teachable
• Healthy