Articles
The Sluggard
A sluggard is a habitually lazy person. The name comes from a slug, a wormlike critter closely related to the snail, renown for its slow movements. The book of Proverbs soundly denounces laziness. Here is what it says about sluggards.
First, a description: “As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed” (26:14). He can swing in his bed, he just can’t seem to swing up out of it!
Second, the depth of his problem: “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it to his mouth again” (26:15). This is hyperbole, but perhaps not by much. He is almost too lazy to eat!
Third, his excuses: “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!’” (22:13). Any excuse, no matter how far-fetched, that gets him out of work will do. What he does not realize, of course, is that his laziness is the spiritual lion’s way of killing him (1 Peter 5:8).
Fourth, his self-justification: “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer” (26:16). He is not lazy, he is wise . . . just ask him! He knows how to “beat the system.” His easy approach certainly beats working.
Fifth, his outcome: “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing” (20:4). Sooner or later, his least-I-can-do-to-get-by-with approach will catch up with him.
These proverbs primarily have to do with literal work. It is no reach, however, for us to make a spiritual application. Let’s be finding things to do rather than reasons not to do them.
