Sluggard In Proverbs

Sluggards Character

sluggard = sluggish, lazy, stupid

he will not begin things

Proverbs 6:9–10 NASB95

How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”—

He will not finish things.

Proverbs 12:27 NASB95

A lazy man does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a man is diligence.

Proverbs 19:24 NASB95

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:15 NASB95

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

He will mot face things.

Proverbs 22:13 NASB95

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”

Proverbs 26:16 NASB95

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

rationalizes his own laziness

Proverbs 20:4 NASB95

The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.

He has a restless unsatisfied desire

craves but gets nothing

Proverbs 13:4 NASB95

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Proverbs 21:25–26 NASB95

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Helpless thorns in his path

Proverbs 15:19 NASB95

The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.

Useless and cause destruction

Proverbs 18:9 NASB95

He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.

Exasperating - as smoke to the eyes

Proverbs 10:26 NASB95

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.

THE SLUGGARDS LESSON

Example of the ant

Proverbs 6:6–8 NASB95

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 30:25 NASB95

The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

needs no overseer

knows the time

The ant motivates itself. We see here the ant has no captain. There is no overseer or ruler telling the ant what to do. The ant knows what to do and motivates itself to accomplish the task.

The ant looks out for itself. Here the ant is seen providing for her own needs. She gathers her supplies (literally bread or meat) when needed. She is not looking to someone else to provide for her. It’s up to her and she knows it.

The ant pushes itself. There is a season for everything and during the harvest the ant gathers food. When it’s time – when the really hard work needs to be done – she doesn’t shy away from it. She pushes herself to gather what’s needed when the time is right.

Ants are adaptable, and can adjust to nearly any ecosystem. resilient - perseverance determination focus

Every ant has a role to play. ants can lift 20 - 50 times their weight

Ants learn form each-other

Ants are unified and selfless

experience:

it comes too late - poverty comes like the bandit

Proverbs 6:11 NASB95

Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:33–34 NASB95

“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.

ends in slave labor

Proverbs 12:24 NASB95

The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

Procrastination - vineyard becomes wasteland

Proverbs 24:30–31 NASB95

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.

wise man learn form the sluggard

Proverbs 24:32 NASB95

When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.