Avoid The Sluggard

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? Proverbs 6:9

Meet Mr. Sluggard. He is the subject of conversation often in the book of Proverbs. The bible warns of the consequences of being a sluggard, one who is habitually lazy.

I wish I could tell you I don’t have a problem with laziness, but I do, whether I call it procrastination, lack of focus or being unmotivated. Until recently I wouldn’t have considered this a spiritual problem, just a minor defect in my personality.

It was when I looked at this situation in light of my God-given gifts and talents, that I saw it as the spiritual problem it is. We are to be good stewards of what God has given us. God showed me this was a good time to address the issue. You see, I too am sometimes like the Sluggard.

A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” Proverbs 26:13

The Sluggard complains about not being able to go to work because there is a lion in the road. I am making excuses. I can’t write for 2 hours a day; I am too busy. However, I did binge watch Netflix this weekend.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– Proverbs 6:10

The Sluggard can’t get up this early; he is tired. How long will he sleep? I want to start getting up earlier to write because mornings are my most productive time. However, I hit the snooze over and over….”a little sleep, a little slumber” (Proverbs 6:10)

“He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. ” Proverbs 10:5

The sluggard is always just about ready to start a job, but not quite. I will sit down to write, then check Facebook or scroll through Pinterest and before long, the hour I had set aside to write has ticked right on past and I am left with nothing accomplished at all!

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:

The lazy person has unfulfilled desires precisely because he fails to take action. One of my biggest dreams is to have a published book. If I continue to squander the gifts and talents that God has entrusted to me, I may never have a published book.

The Sluggard must learn that his ways lead to suffering and pain. Fortunately we also meet another character in Proverbs and that is Lady Wisdom.

My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God (2:1-5; of. 3:1-18; 4:1-9).

It is with the torch carried by Lady Wisdom we can turn directions and change our path to walk in discernment and discover the knowledge of God. This is the path that will lead us to be good stewards of the gifts God has placed within us to serve one another.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10

So as Mr. Sluggard continues to lurk in the shadows of our minds, let’s make good friends with Lady Wisdom and heed her advise to treasure His commandments, cry for discernment and lift our voices for understanding!

Heavenly Father we pray for the wisdom and understanding to be front in our minds as we intentionally push laziness and apathy aside. As Warriors of Hope, we want to blaze a trail ahead using the gifts that you have entrusted us with to serve one another in love. Thank you that we serve a God that makes us overcomers in this world and discerning children of the King. Amen

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