Read Proverbs 26:13–16
Questions from the Scripture text: Who is the subject of each of these four verses? What two things does he say in Proverbs 26:13? What is he like in Proverbs 26:14? In which specific situation? What does he do in Proverbs 26:15a? Why (verse 15b)? How wise is he, in his own eyes (Proverbs 26:16, cf. Proverbs 26:12)?
Why should we watch against laziness? Proverbs 26:13–16 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that laziness is a very deadly folly.
As Solomon has been preparing his son to be king, he has painted for him a cautionary portrait of the fool in Proverbs 26:1-12, where eleven of the verses specifically mentioned the fool. Now, he paints for him a cautionary portrait of a specific sort of fool: the sluggard. “Lazy man” appears in each verse of this text, marking it off as a unit. As the passage progresses, we can see the lazy man’s existence grinding to a halt—until he perishes.
What the lazy man says. The lazy man is an excuse-maker. He doesn’t admit to being lazy. He gives what seems like a good reason: I would die, if I left the house to go to work. Beware of excuses for why working doesn’t “work” for you.
What the lazy man does. The lazy man seems to move, but makes no progress. His movement is restricted by being attached to his comfort like a door is attached by its hinges. Many are they, who are not so much trying to accomplish work as trying to appear to have been working (cf. Ephesians 6:6). Now, the lazy man isn’t just stuck at home, but to his couch.
What the lazy man feels. The lazy man is wearied by everything, not just by those things upon which we actually spend ourselves. His hand doesn’t go to the bowl to retrieve something; it hides there. It was common to eat, reclined on a couch, so the paralysis of the lazy man is now complete, on his couch, with his hand frozen in the bowl. And he dies.
What the lazy man thinks. The lazy man isn’t laying there, frozen, dying, bemoaning his laziness. He is congratulating himself that he wasn’t so foolish as those seven men who could answer sensibly (Proverbs 26:16). If the man wise in his own eyes was the advanced state of the fool in Proverbs 26:12, then the lazy man in Proverbs 26:16 is the most hopeless sort of fool available. Truly, if you find yourself in the portrait of the sluggard, you ought to be crying out to God of converting mercy!
What excuses do you make for not working? When are you tempted to work as an eye-pleaser, rather than to accomplish things? When have you been wearied in mind and soul by things that were not actually wearying your body? When have you thought yourself clever not to put in so much effort as others?
Sample prayer: Lord, please keep us from being the lazy man—especially in the care of our souls. Thank You for giving Christ to be our righteousness and sacrifice. Please make us diligence by His life and wisdom, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”
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