I. Plan Your Work

Wisdom = choosing the right objectives and the right means of attaining those objectives

Plan, Organize, Direct, Control 24:3 Through wisdom is an house built and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge (keeping abreast of the facts -TLB) shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (cf. 3:19-20)

Be objective driven 8:15 By me kings reign, princes decree justice 16 princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

Get good information 24:5 wise man is strong; man of knowledge increases strength 6 by wise counsel you shall make your war...

Fact find  25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

Plan with partners 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.

Practice listening 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Be teachable 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

Beware shady associates 16: 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; furious man 25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.

Prior planning prevents poor performance 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Meet the needs of your customers 27:18 keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit; so he that waits on his master shall be honored.

Listen to God for direction 21:1 the king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as rivers of water: he turns it whithersoever he will.

Be cautious in debt 22:26 Be not one that strike hands, or are sureties for debts. 27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take

Minimize risk 27:12 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

II. Organize According To Your Plan

Establish priorities 24:27 Prepare your work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build your house.

Write it down 25:1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

Work your plan 12:11 He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows vanity is void of understanding.

Do the difficult first 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Encourage teamwork but exercise oversight in timing/preparing for the future 6:7 ants... having no guide, overseer, or ruler...

Human Resources 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

Don’t hire slugs 10: 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

Hire the faithful 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Trust the faithful 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Hire a PR firm 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

III. Work Your Plan (Motivate Others in Achieving the Plan)

Servant leadership 3:31 Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 12:10 righteous regards the life of his beast...

Rule righteously 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.

Mercy isn’t just for wimps 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.

Keep the vision 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.

Anticipate needs 30:31...and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Encourage teamwork and initiative 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

Communicate appropriately 10:32 lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks frowardness.

Reprimand carefully 8:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Communicate cautiously 13:3 He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Trust the trustworthy 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Listen discerningly 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceives not in him the lips of knowledge.

Talk is no substitute for performance 14: 23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.

Motivate 15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Houseclean regularly 25:5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Praise and Reprimand 14:35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.

Wrath has its place 19:12 king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favor is as dew upon the grass. 20:2 The fear of a king...

Be slow to punish 17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

Put up with the ox 14: 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Shoot the Tasmanian devil 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Purge evil don’t file its 20:26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.

Don’t shoot the messenger 17: 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

Fact find then act 20:8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

Delegate appropriately 30:10 Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

Seek the truth 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Value hearing the truth 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right.

Don’t honor fools 26:8 As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool.

Promote respected, qualified, competent people 19:10 Delight is not seemly for a fool or for a servant to have rule over princes.

Value diligence over business 22:29 See a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings

Reward appropriately 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Being righteous in more important than... 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice...

IV. Control (EVALUATE) Your Progress and Variables According to Your Plan

Control, Control, Control 27:23 Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.

Evaluate constantly 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

Evaluate 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Keep accurate books 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Admit and correct mistakes 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is good will

Test against the plan 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death 15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going.

A little laziness yields large loss 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Be diligent 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Learn from mistakes 15:31 The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. 32 He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding.

IV. What They Do Teach You In Holyland Business School

Be blessable Pr 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Inner victory precedes the outer victory 25:28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls

Rule yourself first 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.

Control yourself 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Character precedes conquest 30:22 For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Lead by integrity and example 16:12 It’s abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for a throne is established by righteousness.

Maintain integrity 29:4 The king by judgment establishes the land: but he that receives gifts overthrows it.

Follow through on promises 17:7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Take the long view 14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Be just 29:14 The king that faithfully judges the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

Do lunch 23:1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you:

Make friends of the right people 22:11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Send Christmas trinkets 19:6 Many will intreat the favor of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts.

Don’t believe your suppliers or customers 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, he boasts.

Get a deposit 20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Don’t let favor overcome judgment 29:26 Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment comes from the LORD.

Avoid escapism 31:3 Give not your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

Keep your head while everyone’s losing theirs 31:4 it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Remember the basics 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Would Solomon have made it in today’s business world? What (besides technology) would he be missing?

2. How does corporate management differ from home, personal, church or governmental management?

3. Which of Solomon’s instructions seem to be most lacking in your workplace? What are the consequences?

4. What’s the alternative to being objective driven? How does someone move from being “baggage laden” to objective driven?

5. What motivates you? What motivates those around you? How can motivations change or be changed?

6. What’s the correct response to poor management? How can you shine in your own performance when surrounded by dullards?

7. Which of Solomon’s principles could  use a little polishing in your life? How will it make things different?