The Proverb Challenge: Day 26

The Proverb Challenge

Day 26

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Proverbs 26:13 KJV

Show me a man who is full of excuses and I will show you a man who is lazy. The slothful man hates every thing that requires care and labour. But it is foolish to frighten ourselves from real duties by fancied difficulties.

We can all benefit from a study of the sluggard because too much of him lies in too many of us. Though we may not exhibit his characteristics to such a full extent and thus are not labeled slackers we can certainly profit from a gentle but straight forward thrust the Holy Spirit sends in our direction. And we must, for a loafer will not acknowledge nor deal with his problem.

Let me make two observations before we begin. First, the slacker is not some sort of abnormal person. He or she is an ordinary man or woman who simply makes too many postponements or excuses for opportunities in life. Second, being a sluggard once in awhile is one of the great pleasures of life, as pleasurable as sleeping in on a rainy day. But this occasional reprieve is not to become characteristic of anyone.

A slacker will use any excuse to avoid actual work. Verse 13 portrays the bizarre, even ridiculous measures a loafer will go to avoid leaving his house or working. "The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!'"

The sluggard or lazy person rarely recognizes himself even when boldly confronted with the reality of his problem. When the slacker is confronted with his laziness, with the facts that show he is accomplishing little with life, he always has an excuse. Even a ridiculous excuse is creditable to the sluggard.

MAIN POINT: A lazy man use anything as excuse not to the actual work