Proverbs 6 (Is)Proverbs 6:6-11
Laziness is a topic that I've not heard much about in my life. In western cultures most people seem to "get along" just fine and very few are truly poor even if they don't work as hard as others. Some people are absolutely rich and don't seem to work at all. Even if we suspect that someone is lazy, many situations are complex enough so that we can't immediately pinpoint laziness as the cause.
6:6 "Take a lesson from the ants..."
Ants are used a few times in Proverbs as the model of a diligent worker. Seemingly millions of them spend every waking hour working to feed and protect the colony. They don't need a task master to make sure they get their quota finished, they just work. Unlike ants, humans have the ability to "reason" and don't operate purely on instinct. People have plenty of distractions and selfish "wants" that get in the way. Clearly there is a huge difference between relaxation/resting and laziness and to some extent the difference may even be a matter of opinion. Balance is necessary because too much work can be as bad as too little work. According to Proverbs, the result of laziness is very clear.
6:10-11 "A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."
Laziness results in poverty. People who get up and go to work and do their job diligently will succeed before those who don't and people who diligently seek a job will probably find a better one sooner than those who don't. It's not just about work ethic though. It's about how we approach everything, even our walk with God.
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Salvation is free and easy to be found but greater knowledge and depth of relationship require more work. God wants people who love and seek Him. He wants close friends, not just passing acquaintances who only discuss the weather. Though it is difficult and requires effort and sacrifice, God rewards those who diligently seek Him. If we are serious about being a Christian, having a close relationship with God is first priority.
So we can see how important this lesson is. This is practical, common sense wisdom shared from someone with experience to know that laziness is something to avoid at all cost.
