23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
A man’s gift makes room for him. Do you see a man skilled in his work (Proverbs 22:29)? Maybe the rhetorical question has the expected answer: yes, I see him, but I do not see many like him.
He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.The sense may well be the skilled and the competent worker will not have to boast of his capacities; will not have to sing his own praises; will not always have to be sharpening his resume; will not have to slander his competitors. No, his skill, his competence, proven over the long haul makes a way for him. Advancement, progress, a forward career, attained by competent work.In summary, those are major features of the manner in which we should work. We should attend to our work with diligence; attend to our work with thoroughgoing honesty; attend to our work with competence.
We are to aim to provide materially for oneself, for one’s dependents, for those who have need, and for the work of God. A transcending aim—we are to please God. “Do your work heartily, as unto the Lord and not for men.”1
George McDearmon
29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.