It’s bred into him to want to work. He ain’t like a lot of people, lookin’ for a cool shade and a soft chair.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Man Who Rode Midnight)
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'”
–2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)
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“You sluggard,” is the emphasis of Proverbs 6:6-11. Laziness in mind and body are warned against in these few verses. We must also note that in reality a person can be a spiritual bum as well.
6 — Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
7 — Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,
8 — Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 — How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
10 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep–
11 — So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (NKJV)
The sluggard or lazy person is held captive to leisure, which at times takes away from dutiful work. The first verse, look at the ant. Bob Beasley writes, “It’s a shame that people made in the image of God need to observe tiny creatures for instruction in righteousness. These little ants have no commander to direct their work, no overseer to inspect their work, and no ruler to call them into account. Yet they do their work diligently and in proper order.”
We must be busy, we must work while it is light, while there is time. We should consider our ways, how we use our time. What is it you do with your spare time? How much of your time is actually wasted in foolishness, idleness, and sleep? One day, there will be a time when there is no longer time for preparation. We have been given talents, gifts, blessings, intellect along with time, and we are to be good stewards of those things. We must do our own work for that is what we are responsible for. “Each man must do his own work in the world, each one has responsibilities of his own which will not admit of being discharged by proxy.” (J.L. Fores) Do what you can, when you can, while you can!
The sin of the sluggard is to abuse the blessing of sleep. Sleep is to rejuvenate, to refreshen. “Rest is the reward of labor and not to be substituted for it.” (Flores) So many loathe, gather welfare that is unwarranted, and their bodies, minds, and spirit begin to atrophy and waste away. Charles Bridges warns against “Sleeping away the opportunities of grace.” Without work and with too much sleep the soul goes into poverty and destitution.
Andrew Fausset said, “Our whole present life is the time for action; the future for retribution.” What happens if you don’t work? Paul says you should not eat. Another way of saying this is that you deserve the wages you earn. If you don’t earn any, you do not deserve any. Idleness will bring destruction; spiritual idleness will do the same. Lord Chesterfield said that “indolence is a sort of suicide, for the man is effectually destroyed.”
Stay awake, stay alert, work hard at work worth doing, be excellent in your work, not a sloth. Ponder this a moment, how long does it take to end up in a ditch when driving? A blink of an eye, a little folding of the hands, a lapse in alertness. When I read these verses I think of the parable of Jesus in which the talents were given to the servants. We are to be good stewards of our time and that includes our sleep, and other leisure enjoyments. “Moral alertness is as important to our spiritual lives as physical alertness is to make sure we are safe.” (Dick)
Before we leave, read verse 9 one more time. How long will you…? Sleep is needed. We spend more than a third of our life in sleep. Think of that! One-third! I have written many times that I promised myself that I would not miss the splendor of the sunrise again. Even if I do not see the sun, I will be up ready for the day that the Lord has given me. Dan Dick brings up this point, “So many people walk through their entire lives as if they were asleep. They miss the wonder and glory of the world around them, and they are not even aware that they are missing anything at all.” Walk through this life responsibly. Consider the opportunities that are around you, both in the natural world and in the spiritual. Do not be a sluggard! There is too much in life.