He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31

God is very serious how He views the poor - especially when people choose to oppress them and take advantage of them because of their poverty. The warning that we are given here is about oppressing the poor. The poor by their lack of money and influence are people who have a difficult time finding a way to deal with people who trample their rights. They have no money with which to address the legal system. They have no power among elected officials to influence them outside of their one vote. History has proven that there are a couple of groups who oppress the poor. These two groups are the rich and those who want to maintain political power. The rich do so most often by not offering the poor a living wage when it is within their power to do so. In an interest in getting richer, they take the wages that the poor should receive and keep them for themselves. God offers dire warnings to those who do this. The second group are those who use political power to oppress the poor. Even within our government it is advantageous to prevent the poor from bettering themselves by setting up a welfare state that encourages dependence. This is often not recognized as oppressing the poor because it maintains the illusion that the person in political power is helping them. But any system which traps people in poverty is oppressive, even if it oppresses by handing out what at first looks like free money.

Those who oppress the poor are taunting God. Taunting is such an ugly thing. When those who have an upper hand mock those less fortunate, it is disgusting. The Hebrew word indicates a mocking and open reproach of someone else. This is done in a way that deliberately desires to agitate or humiliate someone. The truly frightening thing about this kind of taunting is that the one doing it is infinitely less powerful than God. Usually the stronger one taunts the weaker. Here although the person is stronger in what is openly seen (i.e. the powerful oppressing the poor) they are probably unaware that their actions are taunting the living God. This is the most foolish thing anyone could possibly do. I get a picture of a bully taunting a small child, unaware that their incredibly strong and huge brother is standing behind them watching the whole thing. In that situation, as well as the one mentioned here in Proverbs 14, someone is about to get a serious beat-down.

The wise man has mercy on the poor. He uses his position of strength and wealth to help them. The word mercy has the idea of being treated in a way we do not deserve. Therefore the wise and godly man remembers how God has treated him - and uses that as a barometer of how he should treat the poor. Maybe someone has become poor due to their own sinfulness. Even in this case we should show mercy and seek to help. This honors God because it reflects His own character in our actions. Whereas the fool taunts God by oppressing and taking advantage of the poor - the wise man wants a reward larger than the riches or power he can get on the backs of the unfortunate. He knows that in the end it will go well with the one who honors God.

In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.  Proverbs 14:23

Peter Lord said, "You DO what you actually believe, all the rest is merely religious talk.  This is a quote that I've read and remembered for years, because it keeps me away from the foolish practice of being all about the talk, but very little about actions that support what I say.

This proverb is not trying to get us to stop talking or speaking about the things of God.  What it is trying to do is to help us see that it is foolish to talk big, but act small.  Too often Christians have said very big things about how they would minister, or what needs to be done in our world - but they have not acted on their own passion to see things changed.  The Lord wants us to say things that are Scriptural - especially when those things radically impact our world with the gospel.  But when we DO nothing to see them come to pass, this is the height of arrogance and presumption. 

There is profit in labor - in working hard to see something done, something made, something come to pass.  But we need to be very careful that we are actually DOING something.  You can have amazing and incredible ideas in the business world - but eventually someone is going to have to put effort and time into see those wonderful ideas turn into actual products and services.  The business world is replete with men who dreamed big, but produced little.  The ones that blessed generations were those who took their talk and turned it into work and finished things. 

We are warned that mere talk leads to poverty.  Just talking about things will get you no where.  But some talk - and then they talk in bigger groups - then they hold summits on getting huge groups to talk.  But in the end they will all wind up in poverty - either in real goods or in a poverty of spirit because their actions never translated into deeds and effort.  There MUST BE WORK to succeed.  No work equals no success. 

The wise man not only talks - but works.  He takes the time to dream and to plan - but also is wise because he take the time spend talking and planning and puts it into a course of action which, when taken, will bless those who do so with very profitable outcomes.  Talk, dream, plan - but be wise enough to put those plans into demonstrable action.

He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.  Proverbs 14:21

We continue to be counselled here on our attitude and actions toward the poor.  God is truly concerned that we are gracious to the poor, for He Himself was gracious to us when we were poorer than any level of poverty could ever reach.  He granted us His very riches in Christ through the gospel - therefore we too should respond with grace and with mercy to those who have little or nothing around us.

This proverb speaks of those who "despise" their neighbor.  The one who despises his neighbor looks at his poverty and hates it.  He sees no need for mercy or for kindness.  He will most likely point out all the reasons why this one is in poverty - and say that is the reason why he should not do anything for the poor.  While it is true that we need to give to the poor in a way that does not enable them to continue in sin, there is a need for them to receive genuine love and mercy from those who can help them. 

Some despise their poor neighbor because their poverty calls for generosity - and that is hard to have when one is in bondage to a worldview where they are all that matters.  They want much for themselves and therefore to give to another is an unwanted trouble.  Therefore they despise the poor - and refuse to be gracious and give to their neighbor in need.  We are told that such an attitude is sinful.  It misses the mark that God has made for us to hit. 

It is truly important to see the nature and the actions of God to see why this is such a sinful, wicked attitude.  When we refuse to give, we are very much unlike God.  He gives to the poor and to the unfortunate.  As was said at the beginning of this post, God gave His Son for the poorest of all creatures - sinful man.  That should help us understand His basic nature - that He is gracious and giving.  We, therefore, should be gracious and giving as well.  To be and to do anything else is just sinful.

The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many. Proverbs 14:20

Popularity is far too often determined by what a person has or does not have, rather than by whether they are a person of character and value. Today's proverb reminds us of this as we are faced with how people are judged by their bank account rather than by who they truly are in life.

The poor is hated by even his neighbor. That is a strong statement, but unfortunately, a true one. James warns in chapter 2 of those who judge by the mere appearance of wealth in the church. His statement is fascinating and will bring much light on our current verse here in Proverbs 14.

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:1-5)

Here James confronts the attitude that respects the rich, but despises the poor. The rich are recognized by their clothing and their jewelry as they walk into the meeting of the church. As a result, they are treated with great respect and deference. The poor, whose clothes seem to betray their poverty, are treated with disrepect and disdain. One if given the seat of honor - the other is left to sit on the floor. The problem with this kind of judgment is that it is motivated by evil motives. Honor is given by what a person makes - not what God has made of them. Respect is shown because of a person's wealth of money - not their wealth of godliness and character. These things are done also because of selfishness, because we figure in the end that we can "get something" from them. We will profit from the relationship - but the profit we seek is only monetary. We shun spiritual blessing and true wealth.

We are reminded hat the poor of this world are usually rich in faith. We devalue that and forget that God sees all and knows all. This is evil - and shows great disrespect for Both God and His Word. It also usually aligns us with those who do harm to God's people. The poor, we read, are rich in faith and are heirs of the kingdom.

Ultimately we need to remember that Jesus was poor as He lived on this earth. He spoke of how the birds of the air had nests - but He had no where to lay His head. It is not that the poor are automatically saved - due to their poverty. It is that they have nothing in this world - thus they are far more ready to hear what God says - not being blinded by their money or their possessions. If we despise the poor - we in all honesty despise our Lord Jesus as well. Yet he is rich in what truly matters - and from what we read in James - the poor are usually rich in faith as well. That is why we need to be wise and value people not on a basis of their financial bottom line - but with true judgment - on the basis of their character and their wisdom gained from their intimacy with God and their study of His Word.

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.   Proverbs 13:23

God is concerned about the poor - and about justice concerning them.  What is interesting about this passage is that the major concern that God has is about freeing the poor to make the most of their lives by hard work.  Unfortunately in our day too many think that the best way to care for the poor is for the government to take care of them by instituting programs that foster what is called social justice.  This kind of justice involves the government using a taxing power to redistribute wealth so that fairness is reached as far as "outcomes" are concerned.  What we see here is that God is more interested in the poor having fairness in regard to opportunity rather than outcomes.

God is the God of justice and He is very concerned about the injustices that are perpetrated against the poor.  In the Old Testament He makes it very clear through the prophets that one of the reason judgment falls on societies is because they no longer have compassion for the poor.  But, social justice is NOT a compassionate response toward the poor.  It is rather an example of government trying to bring about justice by promising equal outcomes for all.  This is done whether or not the person receiving the promised outcome is deserving of it or not.  Whether we like it or not there is some poverty that is the direct result of choices made by the one who is in poverty.  There is also poverty that is the result of people not being willing to work.  The Bible is clear that if a man is not willing to work, he is not to eat.  Then Proverbs tells us that when he is hungry enough - that will motivate him to work.  The poverty of the prodigal son was due to his own ungodly living and ungodly choices.  When a man wastes his money on drunkenness and riotous living, he should not prosper in life.  To promise him the same outcome as the hard working man is not social justice.  It is social injustice! 

God makes promises to those who work hard and who live wisely.  He also makes promises to those who choose ungodly paths - speaking of poverty and want that will come to them.  We cannot try to stay His hand in these matters without eventually bringing the entire government under His discipline.  That is what we are experiencing today.  The government has decided to work for common outcomes for all in a perverted sense of what is just.  But this is unjust - to confiscate the wealth of those who have worked hard for what they have - and to redistribute it to those who in many cases have not worked hard for it.  When someone gives to the poor freely it is a gift.  But when a government gives to the poor by confiscating the wealth and gain of the productive - it is thievery by taxation. 

God says here that abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor.  That means that the poor could till the ground and make a crop that would lift them out of their poverty.  The abundant food does not produce itself - it is given when the poor have the freedom to till their ground and bring it forth.  What is being restricted here is the freedom of these who have been reduced to poverty.  When this happens, there is poverty abounding.  But where there is freedom instead of injustice, the poor man is able to work hard and over time lift himself out of poverty.  Where the government works to provide a level playing field for all to prosper equally from hard work - there will be a blessing on that society.  The government also has a responsibility to make sure that in doing this the rich do not use their money to keep the poor from succeeding.  This happens as well in the world - and it is the responsiblity of the rulers of a nation to make sure that they are not unduly influenced by money to decide for the rich in disputes.  They are to make just decisions and not allow the rich to abuse the law to keep the poor in their poverty. 

God desires justice and freedom to prevail in the affairs of men.  He desires for these things to free men to be able to work hard and prosper from their labors.  These things can be infringed upon in life, but not without cost.  The cost is that the poor cannot achieve better things through hard work, saving, and investing in something that can give them more in their future.  Whether this is done by the rich oppressing the poor - or a government oppressing all by taking from one class to give to another - God is not pleased.  All men - and all governments will stand before God to give an account of their stewardship of the poor.  May we be wise to free the poor to till the fallow ground of their farms and lives so that they may be lifted out of poverty, not by a government program, but by a work-ethic that encourages them to work hard, save, and build for a better future.

He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. Proverbs 11:26

Today's proverb is fascinating to me because it addresses an abuse that often happens in the area of economics. This abuse, though a proven way to make money, results in the inflation of prices for food.  What has happened over the course of economic history is that when this is done - and it reaches a critical level in food prices - it leads to riots and in some cases the overthrow of a government. 

Our proverb speaks of one who has much grain.  Here is a man who has worked hard and labored to produce a crop on his farm.  As a result he has a large amount of grain.  He can choose to withhold grain from the people and not sell it.  By doing this he will drive the price of grain up due to a scarcity of grain in the market place.  This will make him very wealthy, but in time it will backfire on him.  The people, who need grain, will begin to curse him because his actions are preventing them from eating - or is making it to where being able to provide food is becoming very expensive.  The cost is not coming due to natural reasons such as a flood or drought or crop failure.  The added cost is coming due to a man's greed.  But for the man who sells his grain there will be a blessing - not just a financial one - but one from God Himself.  This proverb allows us to consider the whole area of how Biblical authority addresses economic theory.

In our day it is considered a wise business move to hold on to goods until they wind up in short supply.  This allows the person who has them to artificially inflate the price of what they sell so that they can make huge profits from it.  Such actions eventually become accepted business practices on larger levels so that embargos are used by nations to boost the price of their domestic products.  In time groups of businesses form consortiums that try to corner an entire market so that they can set the price wherever they want.  The government then steps in a tries to enforce what they call "social justice."  They impose restrictions on businesses so that things will be fair.  The problem is that in time the government oversteps their bounds and corruption within the government (due to the sin nature in all of us) begins to crystalize.  It is then that officials learn how to use their power to corner their own political markets and do the very thing they initially were trying to prevent in the public sector.  The problem throughout all this is that the poor are hurt the most by such practices. 

Some think wrongly that the end of all labor is to make money.  But Scripture militates against that philosophy.  God desires us to work hard and be diligent to make a profit - but - He also desires for us to be compassionate in the process.  This sets up a very interesting tension in life and in the economic theory that governs Bible-believing Christians.  At one end is the philosophy of pure Capitalism.  This philosophy functions under the idea that life is about the profit motive at all times.  But God warns against a "love of money" which He says is a root of all sorts of evil.  At the other end is Socialism and Communism.  This philosophy functions under the assumption that a government should rule over all land and production efforts.  Their goal is then to take all profits and distribute them equally to all the people.  Both of these extremes will fail.

Pure Capitalism will fail because greed will so rule men's hearts that they will lack compassion for others - and especially for the poor.  In time their greed will consume them with a desire for more and more profit - and an insatiable desire for more and more wealth.  In the process they will shut their hearts to the plight of the poor.  This will lead to greater levels of abuse of the poorest - who will then curse those who have the economic power - and will ultimately lead to revolution and the overthrow of those who have the wealth and power in society.

Communism and Socialism will fail because of greed as well.  Though such economic philosophies sound wonderful at the outset, they fail because of several factors.  First, there is no man who is not fallen.  When given the power to confiscate the wealth of a society, they will NOT distribute it equally.  They will eventually treat themselves well - and let the rest of society live on the rest.  This has happened in every situation when such an economic system prevails.  Their goals may sound lofty, but their practices wind up eerily similar to the captialist.  Second, there is no motive in this system to work.  Actually there is a motive - to do what you do for the good of all others in the collective society.  But this equates good as distributing things equally among all in the society.  This will not work in a fallen world because over time some will sinfully decide that if they don't work hard - or at all - they will still get an equal part of the collective pie.  Others who intially work hard - will be greatly discouraged that it is their hard work that is allowing the lazy, the undisciplined, and the slothful to live just as they do.  In time there will be an equality - but it will be an equality of poverty and want - because no one will be motivated to work to the best of their ability.  No matter how hard they work - they only get the same part of the collective's goods.  These will never be enough for collective prosperity because sinfulness will move many to barely work at all - or at a level where they are forced to work. 

The system God will bless is one that encourages and rewards hard work and industriousness.  This is captialism - but there must be a restraint in this system as well, if it is to succeed.  This is what I call "Compassionate Captialism."  It is a system where the profit motive and self-interest is encouraged.  But it is also a system that values compassion and kindness.  Where a profit and self-interest motive might move a man to withhold grain so he can make an obscene profit - he does not do it.  He is moved by the desire to serve those who buy his grain.  Understanding this he chooses to sell his grain - not just for a profit - but for a profit that also allows those who are poor to be able to afford to feed their families.  In the end, this man is blessed with profit - and also is blessed with the favor of God for acting with kindness and compassion toward those who can easily be taken advantage of by the system.  He chooses a wise profit level rather than one driven by greed alone.  This promotes peace and the welfare of all those in the market. 

It is fascinating to see the wisdom of God address all areas of life.  One would not readily think that the Word of God would be a good place to learn economic principles.  Yet when we read and mediatate on God's Word - immeasurable benefit is gained from it.  Oh, that we would not divorce academic pursuit from the queen of the sciences - theology.  May God gives us wisdom to see that His perspective is best in all academic and lifestyle pusuits.  Then we can be blessed - not just a religious context - but in all of life.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.  Proverbs 22:22-23 

How does God feel about the poor and the afflicted?  What kind of safeguard does God have against those who would treat these people with disregard?  How does God protect these two groups from being expolited by the unscrupulous actions of others?  That is what today's proverb is about. 

This proverb begins with a warning against robbing the poor or crushing the afflicted at the gate.  The gate was the place where financial transactions took place in Israel.  It was the "Wall Street" of their society.  Because this is where the "movers and shakers" of their culture would meet to transact major business, it was also the place God commanded that the poor and the afflicted be given honest and fair treatment. 

The Lord warns against robbing from them and afflicting them.  The word rob is the Hebrew word "gazal" which means to take something by force or to seize something from another because they cannot resist.  Here God is protecting the poor and afflicted because they would not have the kind of business savvy or representation to protect themselves.  The poor are those who a low or small in matters of importance in society.  The word for poor is used to describe the lame, those who were defeated in a military engagement, or someone who is so weak that they are languishing before others.  They cannot rise up to defend themsleves in the gate.  They can barely care for themselves.  Thus they are easy prey to those who want to abuse and steal. 

The Lord also warns against crushing the affllicted.  The afflicted are those suffering in a state of poverty, oppression, or misery.  They are in serious want - and biblically are those whose only hope is in the deliverance and grace of God.  They are easy pickings for the ungodly and unprincipled.  To crush them is to beat them down and oppress them.  Again, their sad state of affairs makes them unable to stop those who would use their power and position to take advantage of their poverty. 

The warning God gives those with power and authority in the gate is to refrain from treating these people badly.  But if someone at the gate would proceed in acting unjustly, we have a picture that should cause us to shrink back in terror.  God says that He Himself will plead their cause.  The poor and afflicted have no representation - or do they?  God said that He would be their representative.  He would "plead their case.  This word "plead" is a legal term.  It means that God Himself will rise up and argue their lawsuit.  The word is "riyb" and it means to strive and contend in a lawsuit or legal case.

Imagine someone among the poor and afflicted - trying to muster up enough strength to stand in the gate and argue their case.  They have no ability to do this - and some in the crowd would even begin to laugh as they haltingly began their defense.  Yet, as they stood humiliated in that setting suddenly a noise would be heard - a mighty rushing of wind from heaven - and all present would begin to tremble as the mighty presence of God descended into the area of the gate.  The Lord, manifesting Himself as a mighty angel, suddenly appears at the proceeding.  All shrink back from His glory and majesty - as they realize that God Himself has come to argue the cause of the afflicted and needy one.  The prosecutor falls on his face and becomes speechless in the presence of God.  Then God proceeds to take up the case of this one so frail and helpless.  But God not only pleads their case with a passion and wisdom that causes all to fall silent.  He also does something that terrifies everyone in the court-setting of the gate. 

Proverbs 22:23 tells us that God will "take the life of those who rob them."  The phrase "take the life," is literally in the Hebrew "rob the soul."  God promises to rob the soul of those who would rob the poor and afflicted.  Our scene now resumes with God finishing His arguments and brilliantly defending the poor and afflicted in the gate.  Then He turns to the one who so arrogantly thought he could rob the poor and crush the afflicted.  He reaches out a hand toward this one and tears his soul from his body.  Robbed of his very soul, the arrogant one falls lifeless to the ground.  All gasp in horror as they watch this fool careen toward the ground with a thud.  His lifeless, soul-less body now a monument to God's judgment upon those who would abuse the poor.

This is what God promises to those who abuse the poor and afflicted ones.  This is what He says will come to those who live their lives for the sordid gain they can gather from the weakest among us.  Some may read this and mock, saying that they've seen the wealthy and powerful do this many times without retribution from God, but know this - their day is coming.  This proverb is a promise from God - so you can know that one day it is going to happen.  May you be ready by being one who loves and is gracious and compassionate towards the poor.  

He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16

How we treat the poor says a great deal about our heart.  There is one thing God is very clear about throughout the Word of God - and that is that He desires for us to care for the poor in our society.  One thing I need to differentiate before I continue is that God also makes a clear distinction between the poor and the lazy.  Too often we view the poor as anyone who does not have enough - whereas God describes them as those who do not have enough, but who are that way not because they refuse to work.  By saying this I am not saying that everyone who is poor is unwilling to work - but I am saying that among those who do not have enough are far too many who are that way because either they won't work - or because their lifestyle choices (i.e. alcohol, drugs, laziness) is what is the cause of their need.  That being said, I want to turn to this proverb and make a few comments.

The one who oppresses the poor to make more for himself is odious to God.  The word "more" here is actually the word for having much.  This person is abusing the poor not because he wants to make a living - but because he wants to be wealthy.  His desire to have much drives him to not see people - all he sees is money.  The word "oppress" has the idea of extorting money from someone.  It also is used to speak of those who cheat their workers out of their wages.  There is an acceptable way to earn a large amount of money in a business, but to do so on the backs of workers who are not paid properly is not the way to do this.  God will not bless such a man. 

The second warning here is for those who give to the rich.  These people shut their hearts to the poor - but instead give to a rich man to curry favor with him.  They do so as little more than a sycophant who is wanting by his gifts to have the rich man give him something in the end.  The Scriptures say that such a practice will only come to poverty in the end.  There may be a temporary return for such a man's wicked investment, but in the end such practices only last as long as the gifts keep coming.  Let someone else offer a larger or more impressive gift and the rich man will turn to him, forgetting the poor schlub who gave him a lesser gift last year. 

Our money belongs to God - and He desires that we use it wisely.  This means that we do business honestly and wisely.  Giving gifts to customers is not ungodly when the gifts are given with a true sense of gratefulness for their patronage.  Being wise with wages so that a business continues to make a profit is not ungodly either.  What the Lord is seeking to get across to us here is that when we do business and make a bigger bottom line our god - we are going to wind up serving money rather than God.  When God blesses our bottom line, He wants us to always remember the poor.  To forget them and see the rich as the only ones who can continue to bless us is to ultimately forget God - Who is the ultimate One to honor and please for future prosperity and blessing.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17

How can anyone ever lend money to God?  That sounds impossible since the Lord owns the cattle on the thousand hills and all the wealth that anyone could ever imagine.  Yet the Scriptures make it clear here that when we are gracious to the poor we are leading to Jehovah.  Let's take a closer look at this - and at the blessing that comes from being gracious and kind to those who are poor. 

When we give to the poor we are being very wise.  We are making an investment that will bless us in the end.  Lending to anyone is a risky endeavor because lending wisely is based on their ability to repay us.  Yet when we are gracious to the poor by giving to them, we are told that we are giving a loan to God.  His ability to repay is infinite - therefore this is an investment that will pay wonderful dividends.  If there were ever a sure bet when it comes to lending policy - this is it.  Being gracious to the poor means showing them mercy.  The idea behind this word is that we are showing a kind act to someone in need.  Since this refers to the poor, the idea of gracious giving is implied.  We read in 1 John that part of the love of God in us is giving to someone who has a need instead of just wishing them well and leaving them to hope for the best. 

The promise here is very clear.  When we are gracious in lending and giving to the poor, we will be repaid from the Lord Himself.  The good deed of giving to the poor is noticed by the Lord.  We are told that the man who is gracious to the poor will be happy (Prov 14:21).  The one generous to the poor by giving him some of his food, God promises will be blessed (Prov 22:9).  We are also told that the one who gives to the poor will never want (Prov 28:27).  These are all very clear promises of God that we should take seriously when we face situations where we can either show mercy upon the poor - or close our hearts to them.  The rich man in the gospels would warn us that shutting our hearts to the poor like Lazarus who sat at his gate is an act that will cost us dearly in the end.  May God give us the wisdom to act on opportunities to provide for the poor.  The benefits of such kindness are beyond our ability to comprehend.  May we abound with such kindness and secure great blessing!

Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.  Proverbs 20:13

There are several ways that the Bible refers to laziness.  Some are very pointed like when God speaks of the sluggard or the lazy man.  This one however speaks of someone who loves their sleep - too much.  As a result of this love of sleeping - they wind up lazy, poor, and possibly hungry.

Do not love sleep.  That is the command that is given here.  It is not a sin to sleep - God even promises in the psalms that He will give sleep to His beloved.  There is a difference between enjoying a good night's sleep and just loving to sleep whenever we can.  One is necessary while the other is a sure sign of laziness.  You cannot love sleep and love God at the same time.

Two different times the concept of oversleeping or loving sleep is used to rebuke the laziness of the sluggard.  Proverbs 6:9 tells the sluggard to get up from his sleep.  Proverbs 6:10 and 24:33 both say that a little sleep, slumber, and excess rest and poverty and problems will come in like a robber and an armed man.  Loving to sleep is a dangerous thing to embrace.  God desires for us to be good, motivated workers.  When we do not embrace work - we will most likely embrace sleeping and laziness. 

The other warning here is that when we become lazy - we will also be in danger of becoming poor - even the point of not having food to eat.  Poverty is often the reward for the lazy - as is hunger.  That is why a welfare system that does not require work of some kind for the benefits received is a blight on the work ethic of any country.  If there are benefits - they must be tied to some kind of work.  When we do not do this we are promising a lifestyle to those who receive it that does not require them to work.  They can love their sleep - and be paid for it.  They can be idle - and still receive money and benefits.  This will build an entire class of society that will begin to expect something for nothing.  That will be devastating to that societies ability to produce things and profit from them.  It will also be a tremendous drain on the character of the society as well.

God's answer to this is the call us to wake up and work.  He calls us to wake up and work hard.  He wants us to labor with our hands - not just to provide for the needs of our families and ourselves - but Scripture also says that our hard work is to be so that we can also have something to share with the ones who are in need.  But the Word also states that in the times when we have abundance - it is to help meet the needs of others - but it also says there will be other times when the abundance of others will be given to provide for our needs.  God's point here is that hard work is not an option - but a necessity for a society.  Without it we will become lazy and undisciplined.  Without hard work we will lack character and will most likely get in trouble with the abundance of free time we have.  Why be poor and hungry - both physically and spiritually?  Wake up - and work hard for your food, for your health, and for your character.