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Laziness in Proverbs

Out of the many topics in the book of Proverbs, the inspired writer places great emphasis upon a good work ethic.

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Randy Neal
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393 views4 pages

Laziness in Proverbs

Out of the many topics in the book of Proverbs, the inspired writer places great emphasis upon a good work ethic.

Uploaded by

Randy Neal
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Laziness In Proverbs By John R. Neal They key to understanding Proverbs is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).

Fearing the Lord is equated with wisdom, according to Proverbs 1:1-6 (noticing the various synonyms that describe what wisdom is and does). One of the greatest themes in the whole book of Proverbs is the stress or importance of a strong work ethic. One might say that work originates from the beginning in the Garden of Eden (man/Adams job was to till the ground). The wise man, Solomon, argues for the importance of being industrious, not laziness. First, the book of Proverbs condemns the attitude of the sluggard. The sluggard is the epitome of laziness. Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger (Proverbs 19:15). The sluggard does not

prepare for the future; he lives only for the now. In Proverbs 20:4, we read of his lack of preparation for the future (which includes not laying in store for the winter months). The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. In Proverbs 13:4, Solomon states: The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully. In Proverbs 15:19, we are told, The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway. The way or path of the sluggard is a thorny road (painful) to

travel. He simply refuses to work. Ultimately, his uncaring attitude towards life leads to death. The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his 1

hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back (Proverbs 21:25-26). The sluggard is not even

willing to lift his hand to feed his mouth (Proverbs 26:15). He is guilty of being wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 26:16). Second, the book of Proverbs connects discipline (or the lack of discipline) with laziness. In Proverbs 13:18, Solomon claims: Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored. The most common word for discipline in Proverbs is musar, found some 50 times in the Old Testament (30 times in Proverbs). This term describes moral discipline, correction, or chastening. To know wisdom, The

Solomon says, is also to know instruction (musar), Proverbs 1:2.

warning against laziness or idleness is one of the many precepts that mothers and fathers are to impart to their children (Proverbs 2:1; 3:1; 4:1ff.; 5:1; 6:1). The individual who lacks this discipline is lazy to the core. His

laziness leads to his poverty. 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 hands to rest, Then your poverty will come as a robber, And your want like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30-34). Third, the wise man tells the sluggard to take a lesson from the animal kingdom. What can the sluggard learn from Gods creatures? The

importance of being industrious. First, he tells the lazy person to consider the ant. Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which

having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer, And gathers her provision in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8). Even though the ants are very small and not strong, still they are able to prepare their food in the summer (Proverbs 30:25). Second, he tells the lazy person to consider

the badger (30:26), who (although not a mighty animal) make their house in rocks. Third, the locusts do not have a king (30:27), yet they all go out in ranks. Fourth, the lizard (30:28) may be grasped with your hand, yet he is in kings palaces. Fifth, the lion is mighty and does not retreat (30:30).

Sixth, the strutting cock (30:31) is among the three/four creatures who are stately when they walk (30:29), and seventh - the goat is also among the stately creatures when they walk (30:31). In conclusion, who could think of laziness/idleness in Proverbs without remembering the original woman whose work is never done, and that is the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31? She looks well to the ways of her

household, And does not eat the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27). She burns the midnight oil (vs. 18), yet still gets up before the sun rises (vs. 15). There is nothing in this passage that even hints of a lazy bone in her body. She still stands as a role model for women (motherhood) in the twenty-first century. There are many great themes that one finds in the book of

Proverbs, but perhaps one of the most important subjects is that of idleness.

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