Proverbs 22:13

The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

There is so much blunt truth in the book of Proverbs, and here the writer laughs at the lazy person who has always got an excuse for doing nothing. On this particular day he fears that there may be a lion outside, and is concerned that he may get killed. He considers that he’s got the perfect excuse for staying at home and doing nothing.

The writer of these Proverbs spent a lot of time reflecting on lazy people, because he was so fearful of the disease of laziness. He saw that it led to poverty and distress, and was keen for everyone to focus their attention on ants who were the exact opposite. In Proverbs 6:6 he wrote: “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!” Ants are always busy and effective in their work, and we can all learn from them.

I’m not accusing you of laziness! I’ll leave you to reflect on the issue, although I’m inclined to think that we all have areas of our lives where we can let laziness creep in – I know I can. However, it’s good for us to recognise that God has got work for us all to do, and he wants us to be fully engaged with it. He would never want us to be overworked; rather he wants us to work effectively because in that way we will find the fulfilment and wholeness that he intends for us.

Everything in Proverbs is focused on encouraging us to live wisely, which means living in the way that is in line with God’s will. The writer does everything he can to say how wonderful it is to embrace the path of wisdom. In Proverbs 3:13-15 he writes: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” No wonder he is so anxious that people shouldn’t waste their lives on being lazy!

Question

Are you ever lazy, and, if so ,what do you learn from the book of Proverbs?

Prayer

Lord God, help me to learn from the example of the ants, and to work effectively for you. Amen