Sight-Seeing at the Lazy Guy's House - Proverbs 24:30-34

I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,  And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.  When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.  "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,"  Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.   Proverbs 24:30-34

There are certain things you can learn by making observations of physical things.  These are not always universally true - but they are true more often than not.  This particular observation was made by someone who knew that a field belonged to someone who was already known as a "sluggard."  Therefore it was known that this man was lazy and undisciplined.  The danger here is not knowing someone's character - and assuming things because of what you see physically. 

What we have here is someone who is making an observation about a sluggard's field or vineyard.  This person is known for two things.  First is that he is a sluggard.  The term refers to someone who is lazy and who shuns any kind of work.  The second observation is that he is also a man who seriously lacks sense.  As usual in the book of Proverbs the word here is actually the Hebrew word, "leb" which means heart.  What is referred to here is not this man's physical heart, but more his spiritual condition.  God is concerned about the state of our hearts - because our actions and our words come out of the overflow of our hearts.  Therefore the fact that this man lacks "heart" speaks more to the truth that he is lacking spiritual wisdom and a heart that turns to God for it. 

We continue to look at the sluggard and his field and we have this report given to us.  It wa a field and vineyard completely overgrown with weeds and nettles, which refers to thorny plants that make for a very unfruitful, unproductive field.  These things are there because of the laziness of the owner.  Not only was this field ignored agriculturally - but it was ignored physically too.  It is noted that the stone wall around it was broken down as well.  This most likely was not due to vandalism, but rather simple neglect over a long period of time.  Therefore there were serious weed problems - and also serious problems with animals getting in and destroying the crops as well.  This was a field ignored completely - and therefore would be a field that was grossly underproducing for its owner. 

Seeing such a field in an agrarian society made the onlooker reflect on things - actually he reflected on the owner of the field.  The word for "reflect" is the Hebrew word "siyt" and it means to focus one's heart and thinking on something.  One might say that this writer was taking this matter to heart.  He had God lay something on his heart as he looked.  The author of these verses was spiritually astute enough to have the Lord speak to him as he looked on this sad scene.  He received instruction as a result of what was before his eyes.  The words here speak not merely of knowledge - but rather of a kind of instructing that disciplines us and uses things to turn us from a destructive path.  That was what was happening here.  Oh that we would open ourselves to such "at-the-moment" instruction like this - that God could take anything and use it to help us walk in His ways.  Jesus spoke like this - using everyday pictures of life to help instruct His disciples (and us) how to walk with Him and honor His Father.

This was the comment he received.  It is said in a way that is placed in quotations.  There are those moments when God is about to speak to our hearts.  We need to be open and receptive to such "wisdom statements" from Him.  As the writer mused on this scene - the Lord spoke to his heart. 

The statement made to his heart had to do with sleeping too much, slumbering too much - and wanting to fold our hands and "take it easy."  God is not against rest - but He is against those who do not work hard.  The sluggard did not want to work - he wanted to rest, slumber, and fold his hands and refuse to work.  The state of his field was proof of these things.  He didn't want to work and do the things that would make for a productive and protected field.  He wanted a life of rest and relaxation. 

This brings me to comment on an oft-said phrase that I hear in our society.  "Don't work too hard," is said to me often - and I understand that people are not urging me to slothfulness.  But - in all honesty - I do need to work hard.  God said that in a fallen world like ours - being a hard working person will have a tendency to protect me . . . from me!  Too much time along - too much time without something productive to do - too much time to myself - and I will get into trouble.  I know - because I've been there - and I know how hard it is to keep me from being stupid when there is too much time on my hands.  Therefore I know that a life of hard work - of labor - and of productiveness (whether at work, or at home, or even in spiritual things) is good for me. 

The end of this proverb is telling.  What hapens when you get lazy and undisciplined.  God says that the end of such things is poverty.  There will be a poverty of finances because the sluggard won't have any crops.  There will be a poverty of character because the sluggard won't do what is necessary to develop it in cooperation with God.  There will be a poverty of spirit because we won't grow spiritually without some kind of discipline in our lives.  Poverty is coming - and is coming like a robber.  This word speaks of a vagabond who comes upon you and takes what you have.  Poverty will come if a man is lazy - and it will come like someone who walks up unannounced and steals your things.  Poverty is also coming like an armed man.  This speaks of those who came with armies - and who plundered after they took a city or town.  Poverty was coming to the sluggard - and was coming to plunder everything he had.  Laziness is costly - and it is a lesson that we too need to learn - even as we see its ravages all around us.