February 10, 2021

A Look at Laziness #

Proverbs 24:30-34

Introduction

As laziness becomes more prominent in the world, it also invades the church as well. It is something we need to guard against in our own lives.

If you are idle in Christ’s work, you are active in the devil’s work. - Spurgeon

The Book of Proverbs deals very hard blows against sluggards, and Christian ministers do well frequently to denounce the great sin of idleness, which is the mother of a huge family of sins. - Spurgeon

I. Consider the Image (30-32) #

A. Resources available #

i. Productive land #

ii. Protective fence #

iii. It is not that he didn’t have anything, he refused to use what he had, he refused to work with what was available. #

It was enough to get started. Don’t complain about what you do not have, use what you do have.
Some people want to be given the world, and will not be any more productive than they are. It is not a lack of resources, it is a lack of motivation, work ethic, discipline, or character

B. Visibility #

i. He was just a casual observer… not an inspector. #

ii. Some people are very observant. #

iii. It was an eye sore to all! #

C. Reproach to neighbors #

i. Weeds - ugly #

ii. Wall - broken #

iii. Wild animals – snakes, rats, foxes, #

II. Consider the Idleness (33-34) #

A. Slothful (31) #

i. Habitual laziness #

ii. Refusal to work (Proverbs 6:6-11) 10-11=33-34 #

Laziness, idleness! - Don’t marry a man that won’t work. Don’t marry a woman that won’t work!

Prov. 10:4 ¶ He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Prov. 13:4 ¶ The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Part of the curse!

Gen. 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

B. Void of understanding (31) #

Proverbs talks about the simple, this is not a simple person, for all practical purposes this is a stupid person. Someone who refuses knowledge or intelligence, because it requires work.
He who is lazy in work habits will certainly be lazy in study habits.

C. Poverty is a surety (34) #

i. “poverty come as one that travelleth” – Certainly in Bible times, travel was treacherous. Thieves were always a problem. #

ii. “as an armed man” – someone who is pushed to steal, from desire. #

III. Consider the Instruction (32) “received instruction” #

Cato Major, “That wise men profit more by fools than fools by wise men; for wise men will avoid the faults of fools, but fools will not imitate the virtues of wise men.”

A. Don’t be lazy (Physically) #

i. Laziness is becoming more prevalent in America #

ii. Christians should be some of the best workers! #

2Th. 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Our government is training people just the opposite of that! They invite people to set home idly and collect money from the government.
1Th. 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

B. Don’t be lazy Spiritually! #

Our souls are our fields and vineyards, which we are every one of us to take care of, to dress, and to keep. They are capable of being improved with good husbandry; that may be got out of them which will be fruit abounding to our account. We are charged with them, to occupy them till our Lord come; and a great deal of care and pains it is requisite that we should take about them. (2.) These fields and vineyards are often in a very bad state, not only no fruit brought forth, but all overgrown with thorns and nettles (scratching, stinging, inordinate lusts and passions, pride, covetousness, sensuality, malice, those are the thorns and nettles, the wild grapes, which the unsanctified heart produces), no guard kept against the enemy, but the stone-wall broken down, and all lies in common, all exposed. - Matthew Henry