What the Book of Proverbs Says About Slothfulness
or
The wasted desire of the unrighteous sluggard.TEXT: Proverbs 6:6-11
INTRODUCTION:
-- A SLUGGARD should observe the WISE ANT.
-- The ANT has no Guide, Overseer or Ruler.
-- Makes provision for meat [food] in summer;
Gathers food in the harvest season.-- A SLUGGARD'S end is "poverty" & "want".
[Consider the plight of the homeless in general. Might not this be corrected?]
I. Proverbs 10:4-5,26
A. A major contrast: SLACKNESS --> becomes poor; DILIGENT --> makes rich [Rags vs. Riches] B. Hard work pays. [A WISE son gathers in summer. A SHAMEFUL son sleeps in harvest.] C. To be described as VINEGAR to the teeth & SMOKE to the eyes are not good, positive, personal CHARACTERistics [CHARACTER has always COUNTED for something.]II. Proverbs 12:24,27
A. Those who are DILIGENT will rise [bear rule] to the top leadership positions. B. Those who are SLOTHFUL will be under subjection [tribute].III. Proverbs 13:4
A. A SLUGGARD may even have desire to do great things, but that is where it will stop. [e.g. A desire to be a great, concert pianist but won't take the time learn & practice the fundamentals of music.] B. But a DILIGENT person will have not only desires, but in addition fruit from his labour.IV. Proverbs 15:19
A. The way of a SLOTHFUL man is not pretty to say the least. It is "an hedge of thorns". [Slothfulness is implied to be UNRIGHTEOUSNESS--SIN]. B. The way of the RIGHTEOUS is plain.V. Proverbs 18:9
-- SLOTHFULNESS & Wastefulness go hand in hand. -- A GREAT waster.VI. Proverbs 19:15,24
A. SLOTHFULNESS lulls people to sleep. B. "an idle soul shall suffer hunger". [Can also be taken SPIRITUALLY... e.g. Bible reading, church attendance, witnessing, prayer, etc.] C. Verse 24 -- what a picture... While a SLOTHFUL man is hiding his functional members from anything whatsoever that has to do with WORK, he is really cutting his own throat.VII. Proverbs 20:4
A. Any slight 'excuse' causes the SLUGGARD to rest. [e.g. a cold, sniffle, cough, stubbed toe, paper cut] [Stop making Useless Excuses.] B. Note: How his FUTURE will NOT be bright at all. He shall have nothing even when REAL NEEDS are desired to be taken care of.VIII. Proverbs 21:25
A. Desire can kill if nothing follows. B. Labour REQUIRES exercise of the hands and the mind. [Nehemiah 4:6 -- "the people had a mind to work."]IX. Proverbs 23:21
-- A state of drowsiness at all times of the day will clothe a man in rags.X. Proverbs 24:30-34
-- This is a review of Proverbs 6:6-11.
IX. Proverbs 26:13-16
A. Verse 13: A SLOTHFUL man will find _some way/some how_ an obstacle or thing. B. Verse 14: A sad, sad CHARACTER problem that should have been corrected. 'As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the SLOTHFUL upon his bed.' C. Verse 15: Remember Proverbs 19:15 D. Verse 16: Actual reasoning power of a SLUGGARD is 7 times lower than a normal human....maybe.CONCLUSION:
-- Don't be content in the state of being a sluggard.
-- There is much more at stake than what meets your eyes.
-- CHRISTIAN are COMMANDED in Romans 12:11 & Hebrews 6:8-12 to be NOT SLOTHFUL.
-- We need to grow, serve & be productive for the Lord Jesus Christ.
-- Refuse to be a lazy person . . . Amen!