RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-04-05	Why Does A 'Little Sleep' Bring Poverty? (Pr.6:9-11)
		Pro 6:9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? Pro 6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— Pro 6:11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. If getting a 'good night's sleep' is beneficial for overall health, one may ask why it will end in poverty (v.11). This maxim (short statement expressing a general truth) is not downplaying the value of sleep. Rather, it uses “a little sleep” to represent the laziness that leads to ultimate poverty and ruin. The passage is addressed to the “sluggard” (v.9) asking him the question, “How long will you slumber” and “When will you rise from your sleep.” The counsel is not aimed at the industrious person needing a good night’s rest. It is targeted at the habitual sloth. The word “little” before 'sleep' and slumber' is meant to express sarcasm to the sluggard. This sarcasm is directed to the one whose plan appears to be to sleep the day away. It is as if the sluggard says he only sleeps “a little”. But it is clear it turns out to be a lot, even reflects his lifestyle. Solomon said something similar signifying this inactivity is foolish (Ec.4:5). Ecc 4:5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. This proverb gives a picture of too much sleep and folding one's hands in idleness to illustrate the attitude of the lazy sluggard. The book of Proverbs often extracts moral teaching from the world of nature. The writer tells the sluggard to “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise” (v.6). In other words, learn from the ways of the ant and become wise. Ants provide an incredible example of hard workers. They labor diligently despite not having a taskmaster to keep them toiling. The lazy man learns too late and comes to inescapable poverty, just as a victim is overpowered by a robber (v.11). It does not take long for shortage and debt to swoop down on a slothful person. Laziness will steal away every resource until nothing is left. The idea of laziness in Proverbs is foolish behavior (Pr.26:13-15). So lazy people are soon poor, while the hard worker prospers (Pr.10:4). Pro 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor. The Proverbs are packed with admonitions to work hard if you want to succeed and avoid ruin (Pr.14:23; 19:15; 20:4, 13). The “fool,” and the “scoffer,” like the “lazy” believes he is wise, but his life will end in destruction because of this idleness (Pr.21:25-26; 24:30-34). In the New Testament, Paul warned the idle ones to work (1Th.5:14). 2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 2Th 3:12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. The main idea of a little sleep, a little slumber is that lazy people prefer sleep over work. This will lead to ruin and poverty. Laziness is a sure sign of a spiritual problem. God wants us to be diligent in our walk of faith. It would solve many problems in many churches if busybodies (usually troublemakers) would do something constructive with their lives. Paul says that we should quietly go to work and mind our own business. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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