“I passed by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard
of the man lacking sense; and behold, it was completely overgrown with
thistles, its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken
down. When I saw, I reflected upon it. I looked, and received instruction. ‘A
little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,’ then
your poverty will come as a robber, and your want like an armed man” (Proverbs
24:30-34, NASB).
I seriously doubt that many people set out with the goal of
being lazy. But as the writer of this proverb teaches us, all it takes to get
there is “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to
rest.” Of course, this proverb isn't saying we aren't to rest - we all need rest. But we are to accomplish first and rest second. Two different people are mentioned in this proverb and both are
described in most uncomplimentary words: “sluggard” and “lacking sense.” These
two guys’ sloughing off resulted in “completely overgrown” tracts of land that
should have provided the needs of these men and their families.
What was the result? Oh, the first year wasn’t too bad –
they had supplies stored away. But the next year, when those weed-ridden plots
didn’t produce a sellable harvest, there was nothing to store away and no money
with which to buy supplies. “Poverty” indeed came like “a robber.” Suddenly the
day of reckoning was there, and these men had nothing to show for their labor
because their labor had been nonexistent.
There’s a wealth more meat on this Biblical bone, but I’ll
leave it for another time. But think for just a moment about this “day of
reckoning” I referred to. All of us will give an account not just to our
creditors, but to Almighty God – see Luke 16:2. Take care of the home He’s
blessed you with. Take care of the vehicle He’s provided for you. Acknowledge
His ownership of all these things He allows you to make use of and express to
Him proper gratitude.
“Good cheer is something more than faith in the future; it
is gratitude for the past and
joy in the present.” (unknown authorship)
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