Lazy Laborers

Read Proverbs 6

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Proverbs 6:10-11

Who doesn’t want to hit the snooze button when that blaring alarm wakes us out of our slumber? Fortunately, this proverb doesn’t mean that using the snooze button every morning is going to send us onto the streets, homeless. Nor does it mean that a bit of rest from our labors will ruin us. Indeed, the Bible even talks about God resting from his labors (Genesis 2:2), and Jesus and his disciples went away to rest (Mark 6:31). These should not be considered the workaholic’s life verses, for they are not meant that way.

These verses are talking about a habit of laziness. Lazy people always have an excuse for not being productive with the gifts and talents God has given them. Laziness will have its consequences, often leading to poverty and scarcity, as these verses predict.

God calls us to work, support ourselves and our families, and be productive for his kingdom. God has little use for lazy laborers other than graciously to transform them into productive ones.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Laziness lulls us into disaster.

Today, Lord, help me to work hard and well at the tasks you have placed before me.