8 Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which [e]falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats [g]his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is [h]in the open square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
There are a few lessons here for anyone in business, and according to Rabbi Lapin, that’s everyone. Whether you’re running an actual business, or an employee, you have a business, but the main point here is to be careful who you go into business with. The lessons here apply to going to work for someone as well, and possibly other areas of our life where we join together with others for a particular cause.
In verse 10, Solomon gives an analogy of an archer, who might as well be blind, or perhaps he is like they sometimes portray in the movies. He is just launching arrows in to the sky, hoping to hit something. In this blind volley, everyone gets hurt, friend and foe alike. And guess what happens when we partner up with a fool, or the first random person to come by?
We aren’t doing anyone any favors in this case, and end up hurting people instead. Likewise, Solomon describes the sluggard again, and that’s certainly not a good person to hire or to work for, either way. We should also be careful of those who spout wise sayings (v. 9), attempting to look smarter than they really are. Maybe they don’t do direct harm, like a thorn in the hand.
Think of the feeling of having a splinter in your finger? Sure, you can keep working, but you’re constantly distracted by the pain or annoyance of that stupid little sliver. You might even have to hold back a little, afraid it’s going to dig in deeper. Just get rid of it! Yeah, the same applies in our business relationships, not that we are so callous with people, but we aren’t doing them favors by letting them stick around someplace that isn’t their calling.
What do we look for then? This passage reminds me of the three things Patrick Lencioni says of the ideal team player. They are intelligent, hungry, and humble. We’ve covered humility plenty in Proverbs, and vv. 13-14 show the absolute lack of hunger. The sluggard has no drive, no desire to succeed, and we shouldn’t tolerate it in our own lives either.
What about intelligence? This isn’t just hiring smart people, this is people who are self-aware, who can work well with others, they are “people smart”. The fool in vv. 9-12 is again the opposite of this, and does not belong in partnership with you. Whether it is a volunteer position in church, hiring an employee, finding a job, finding a mate, whatever the case, don’t fire your arrows at random, but be intentional.
Most of all, ask God for wisdom, and follow his guidance to put the right people in the right places–ourselves included. He created each of us with purpose, and ignoring that is to ignore one of the most important facts of our life. Live life on purpose, with His purpose.