Whatever you do, tackle it like a man—do a man’s job and don’t be a slacker.”
–D.C. Adkisson (The True and Unbiased Life of Elias Butler)
“His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
–Isaiah 56:10 (NKJV)
—————————-
You’ve worked with them–the person who won’t do his share of work, the one with all kinds of excuses. I used to hate group work, for there would inevitably be the one who would sponge off the others earning a grade that they didn’t contribute to. As an administrator there was nothing worse than a lazy teacher… Today we’ll take a look at Proverbs 10:4-5.
4 — He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 — He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. (NKJV)
4 — A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 — He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (ESV)
We see first the idea of sloth or laziness which these versions call “slack.” The fruits of a lazy person are poverty, and disgrace. Bob Beasley says, “Sloth therefore becomes not just a material problem, but a moral one as well.” The term for “slack” is literally “deceitful”; this is the person who “pretends to serve his Master.” (Charles Bridges) The lazy, the slacker is a deceitful person. He takes his wages, he signs up to do the work, but puts it off or does a haphazard job. Beasley writes, “Laziness impoverishes in every way–materially, spiritually, physically, and mentally–and makes us unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.” This is a person who is wasting their trust.
Look at the situation in our country today. Much of it is due to the slacker, the lazy person who wants a handout rather than earning their keep. They have the “give me” mentality, in fact, the new mayor of New York has said that the idea of “rugged individualism” must be done away with and we must become a community. In other words, “give me.” The theologian of earlier days, Bishop Hall said, “Our idle days are Satan’s busy days.” Idleness leads to poverty, not just material but moral–see again what is happening in Minnesota.
Dan Dick brings this idea, “There is nothing to be gained by resting on our laurels. Hard work and integrity are important values to possess. If we can learn to be disciplined in our daily work, then we can improve our spiritual discipline as well. It is pleasing to God when we put forth our best efforts. When we refuse to do our best, then we are failing to utilize the talents and gifts that God has given to us all.” Satan wants to stop our work. See there is great value in work. We must be diligent–“decisive in all things, one who economises their times and means”. (Andrew Fausett) We need to be like Nehemiah in our answer, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (6:3, NKJV) Leave the work, become a slacker, lose the opportunity that God has given us, the training that is ours–that is what happens to the slacker.
We must not be like the person that Jeremiah describes when he proclaims, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” (8:20, NKJV) We realize that we are not saved by works, but because we are saved we are to do works. J. Vernon McGee says, “Faith and laziness will not mingle. A lazy Christian is not a Christian with real faith in God.” Similar to what James tells us, “Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (2:17-18, NKJV) The Swiss theologian Zollikofer said, “The industrious man lives in the entire true intimate consciousness of himself. He rejoices in his life, his faculties, his endowments, his time.” In other words, he fulfills the purpose for which he is placed on earth. He does not idle away the time.
Our work for the week helps prepare us properly for the day of rest. The Sabbath rest is sweeter and more rewarding after a week of diligent work. Look at this another way, the work of the week–“life”–helps to prepare us properly for the time of rest–“eternity.” Charles Bridges writes, “The wise gathering in this summer gives substance, vigour, high tone and power of usefulness in after-life! How often may we trace poverty of mind, enervation of character, unprofitable habits, to sleep in this fruitful harvest!”