Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Proverbs 6:6-11

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Proverbs 6:6–11

[6] Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

[7] Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

[8] she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

[9] How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

[10] A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

[11] and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man. (ESV)

Proverbs Chapter 6: Four Character Flaws Which

Lead One Away From Wisdom

Proverbs 6:6-11 Wisdom and Laziness are Incompatible

Proverbs chapter six comprises four sections containing wisdom from a father to a son concerning character flaws that will lead one away from the path of wisdom. In this second of the four sections, the father teaches the value of industriousness and the folly of the human tendency to value instant gratification over future rewards that result from good use of one's time. I've been struggling with my own use of time lately, and this one stung more than a little. That's the beauty of Proverbs – this is timeless wisdom and practical. At some point, everything in this book will come to bear on our lives in this world.

In the first section of this passage (v.6-8), the father exhorts the son to learn from the ant's industriousness. Ants need no supervision; they simply go about doing what ants do. Each ant has his job, and each task is done as it should so that the entire ant hill runs smoothly. Solomon is speaking of disciplined self-motivation. Amazing how wise these words are, considering many have been working remotely and frequently lament their lack of self-discipline in such an environment. Solomon wrote these words over three thousand years ago! But human nature doesn't change! Here the son is to see the wisdom of attending to one's work to store what is needed for the future.

But lest we rely too much upon what we've stored up for the future, like the man who built barns to store his grain but was poor in the things of God (Luke 12:16-21), we shouldn't become complacent. Neither should we be anxious about the future, but rather be like the birds, as Jesus said in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:25-26). Rely on God's grace, don't be anxious, but also don't be lazy. Either way, we risk making our anxious worry our God rather than relying on God Himself. Solomon is saying to rely on your own efforts – the work itself is a gift from God, and hard work can lead to abundance – this itself is the main way God provides for us. But the abundance itself is not to be "worshiped," rather God is to be praised for giving you the talent to work for it.

The second section of this passage (v.9-11) makes fun of our ridiculous excuses for being lazy. A little rest here, a bit of lying about there, and a moment to collect my thoughts and suddenly, "where has all the time gone?" Solomon cautions that such incremental procrastination can lead one to poverty. Paul also addresses this in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. It seems like common sense: shun laziness and embrace useful productivity (not "busywork" or being a "busybody," as Paul calls it). Isn't it interesting to know these are not modern problems but have plagued mankind for thousands of years? You're not alone in this struggle, and neither am I. Pray about it. Talk about it with other members of the body of Christ. Lift one another up, and listen when they call you out on your lack of wisdom and silly excuses. It will make an immediate difference.