Thoughts on the topic of sluggards from the book of wisdom

As we venture into this topic, let’s be clears on the meaning of the term. There may be some readers who are not familiar with the term “sluggard”. Personally, I love the word. Not the meaning, and especially not the application or reality of it in my own life, but the sound, the noise it makes as it rolls from the throat.

I got a thing for sounds!

To be a sluggard is to be a deadbeat, a couch potato, a loafer, a slouch, an idler, a good for nothing lazy bag of bones. To be a sluggard is to be a professional, highly motivated procrastinator, a shirker of responsibility and an avoider of tasks!

For our time in the proverbs, we will find there is much to be challenged by. A number of truths occur over and over in the passages we will consider. Truths that describe the sluggard as having nothing to show for his life, that he will go hungry, that he is a disappointment to others. He is a “victim” and that he is a great story teller.

One small verse for this post. One tiny truth about the sluggard. One characteristic that the sluggard exhibits, that he depends on to continue in his sluggardness.

He is wiser than them all!

Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Imagine a perfect storm of bad character traits!

A lazy man or woman, that is actually wiser than all others! There would be no arguing with him, no convincing him that he needs to change. As a matter of fact, his manner of life and his ability to justify his decisions may only spread throughout a culture, guiding those who are less wise than he (which is you and I) into an indolent lifestyle. This man or woman (who is the wisest of all) could inflict massive destruction on a society though his wise teaching on the life of laziness, of the benefits of a “sluggards lifestyle”.

We all know this is poppycock, for it is only in the mind of the sluggard that he is wise. He is a fool! In his mind, he is the wise one. The know-it-all that has found the secret of a comfy life. And due to this arrogance of the sluggard, to speak to him about his sluggardness is well nigh impossible due to his or her stubbornness of pride.

Trust me – I have met one or two in my day!

The threat of sluggardness still exists though, for a “lazy lifestyle” can permeate a culture. It is not though through the concentrated efforts of the sluggard, for you see he will not exert himself to spread his own way of life. No, his example does enough damage simply by being a sluggard to those who come in contact with him.

No, the diffusion of a “lazy lifestyle”, that of a lifestyle of ease, sleeping in, story telling and owning a proud spirit brings about the downfall of a culture simply because it is easy, allowed and appealing to those who want an excuse to be taken care of, allowing some to demand rights and refuse responsibility.

I can hear the sluggard in me, calling out to me, whispering to me of a little extra rest. And as I mentioned in an earlier post on sluggards, we all need rest, some more than others. The key for this post is that we need to be open to others comments if they see something in our lives. We need to exhibit a humility, a constant humility that would allow a friend or brother to speak openly about this tendency grabbing our lives.

A little humility in our lives, a little surrender of the “don’t challenge me” attitude may bring great dividends to our lives and honor the Lord.

May it be so.

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