Spartan Christianity

One of the biggest struggles men have is coming to the realization that they will have to work for their entire lives.

They will have to spend the majority of their lives in a cubicle doing something they do not want to do and aren’t interested in doing.

Many men get stuck here because they put themselves in a Position where they have no choice but to work.

It’s not work done from their own free will, it’s work done to survive. Men sell their hours for dollars that they then spend on survival.

All the while they question if survival is worth it in the first place. 

Every man goes through this period of difficulty.

If this is you, don’t worry. This is normal.

Even the wisest man to have ever lived, Solomon, experienced this phenomenon and outlined it in the book of Ecclesiastes. 

While traditional Christian thinking tries to teach young boys that work is all about finding some “purpose” and “fulfillment”, Solomon teaches [through inspiration from the Holy Spirit] that work is a “burdensome task”, a task that “Robs sleep”, and one that is “vanity”. 

“And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.”

Ecclesiastes 1:13 (NKJV)

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NKJV)

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NKJV)

“Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NKJV)

“For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:23 (NKJV)

“For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:23 (NKJV)

In the end all our work means nothing. All of our work will fade into obscurity.

It might have helped us and our family survive, which itself is noble, but that is where the benefit stops.

Even workers who built something that lasted centuries are quickly forgotten.

How often have you thought about the builders of the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, or the Notre Dame Cathedral?

This idea of “Purpose” and “True Fulfillment” that circulates in Christian circles is most likely a Myth. 

Another myth commonly propagated in the church is this idea that if you work, somehow you will stumble on “true fulfillment” and “It will all be worth it”.

Not only can Christian men not define what “fulfillment” even is, but they certainly can’t tell you how to get it.

Even when they can define it, it is very clear that “fulfillment” to them is an emotional state. 

As far as “It will all be worth it” is concerned: understand that this is a complete myth.

Your human nature won’t allow for anything to be worth it. And the “It” is “all that work”.

We can prove this quite easily.

Have you ever noticed that no destination is ever as enjoyable or as exciting as the journey to get there?

No vacation is as exciting as planning for the vacation and the excitement that leads up to it. 

This is by design. 

Our neurological pursuit systems are stronger than our reward systems for some reason. This is not an accident, but something God put within us to ensure we are continually pushing towards some goal. 

Understanding that, we can easily see how nothing is ever truly “Worth it”.

That’s a depressing reality, but it is reality nonetheless. 

No accomplishment will ever be worth the work it took to get there. 

It will only disappoint.

If you find yourself working a day job, being unfulfilled, and coming home every day dreading the next day, you aren’t alone. This is the nature of mankind.

Your job will never be what you wanted it to be.

You will never be as excited about your work as you were when you were a kid and were in such a hurry to grow up and be something.

If you want satisfaction in work, you have to create your own kind of work.

You have to create work where you can do something you semi-enjoy, while being compensated well, while also not having to spend many hours doing that work. 

It’s a tall order, but this is the age of opportunity.

You can research and find ways to accomplish this.

I truly believe that only when you free yourself from the modern slavery that we create for ourselves by the endless pursuit of material gain [while mindlessly following the traditional 9-5 pipeline] can you ever hope to find any happiness or fulfillment. 

You’ll be far happier removing something you hate that you will from adding something you might enjoy. 

Nothing will ever be as enjoyable as its opposite is painful. 

So get rid of the pain. 

Free yourself. 

Conduct yourselves like men

Proverbs 10:10 is a powerful verse that warns against two specific vices: malicious secret communication and foolish speech. 

“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.”

Proverbs 10:10

The Malicious Wink

In this context, the “wink” is possibly talking about secret, or other forms of deceitful communication.

It’s a subtle form of deception, where one person conveys a hidden message or intention to another, typically with malicious intent. 

Gossip.
Defamation.
Character Assassination

This could involve winking to signal a lie, making a sly gesture to mock someone behind their back, or using other covert means to spread gossip or slander.

Examples of malicious winking leading to harm and grief are abundant throughout history.

A betrayal signaled by a wink could lead to the downfall of a trusted friend or ally.

Gossip and rumors spread secretly can ruin reputations and fracture relationships.

The proverb serves as a clear warning against participating in such underhanded behavior. 

Deceit and malice, even when conveyed subtly, are antithetical to wisdom and inevitably cause grief and harm to others.

The Chattering Fool

The second vice addressed in this proverb is that of the “chattering fool.” This refers to someone who speaks excessively and without wisdom, allowing their words to flow unchecked and unfiltered.

Such a person is characterized by a lack of self-control and a disregard for the consequences of their speech.

These types of people are very common. Words are plentiful in the modern day. 

The proverb emphasizes the importance of controlling the tongue and speaking prudently. 

Words have power, and those who fail to exercise wisdom and restraint in their speech often find themselves suffering the inevitable consequences. 

Contrasting the Two Vices

While the malicious wink and the chattering fool may seem like distinct vices, they share a common root: a lack of wisdom.

The malicious wink involves deceitful non-verbal cues, while the chattering fool engages in unrestrained speech, but both stem from a failure to exercise wisdom and discernment.

Moreover, both vices cause harm to others and ultimately bring ruin upon the perpetrator.

The malicious wink sows seeds of mistrust, grief, and division, while the chattering fool’s words can wound, betray, and destroy relationships and reputations.

“A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.”

Proverbs 19:19

Dealing with Hot-Tempered People

This proverb teaches a simple lesson: it’s a waste of time to try to help or rescue someone with an uncontrolled temper.

Such a person is prone to repeating the same mistakes and getting into trouble again and again due to their lack of self-control. 

If you assist them, you will have to repeat this assistance until the end of time. 

The key lessons here are: 

1. Anger Leads to Consequences: A person with a “great wrath” or hot temper will inevitably face negative consequences or “pay the penalty” for their unrestrained anger. We understand this: no one makes wise decisions while under the influence of anger. 
   
2. Temporary Relief: Even if someone intervenes to “deliver” or rescue the hot-tempered person from the consequences of their anger, it is only a temporary solution. 
   
3. Recurring Pattern: The hot-tempered individual will likely repeat the same angry behavior, requiring repeated interventions or “rescues” from the consequences. At some point you have to let people do what they are going to do and suffer the consequences of their own actions. Without this, they will never learn or change their behavior. 

The proverb suggests that personal development requires personal responsibility and self-discipline.

Merely shielding someone from the consequences of their anger does not address the root issue of their lack of self-control. 

Practical Application

1. Avoid Enabling: Constantly rescuing or enabling someone with anger issues can reinforce their behavior and prevent them from learning self-control. Just as God lets us use our free will and then suffer the results of that free will, so we also must let others suffer the consequences of their actions without trying to shield them. 
   
2. Allow Consequences: Sometimes, it is necessary to let people face the natural consequences of their actions, as this can motivate them to change. God does this to us all the time. God will allow is to suffer the consequences of our own actions if it will make us better.
   
3. Encourage Rational Thought: Instead of constantly intervening, encourage the hot-tempered person to reflect on their behavior and take responsibility for their actions. Teach them to use their minds and try to think in advance before making poor decisions. 

The proverb teaches us that true growth and change come from within, not from external interventions that shield individuals from the consequences of their actions.

Let people pay the price for what they do.

This applies even to yourself.