I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Various Proverbs 

I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34

Day 141 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. This morning my focus includes proverbs that cover economic well-being (wealth and poverty, benevolence and generosity, oppression of the poor, industriousness, conservation, and surety for another).

My parents owned a small-business and I experienced first hand their hard work and work ethic - which they passed down to me.  I am grateful that they did.  Now that I am a father, I am trying to pass on the same lessons to my own kids.

Proverbs 24:30-34 helps me stay focused on this lesson.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has blessed me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus!  I know that I am not deserving...primarily because I sin...daily, including my neglect of my most important relationship - You!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

2 Thessalonians 3

We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. v7-9

Paul warns the Thessalonians about some in the church that are idle.  The definition includes those "avoiding work", "without purpose", or those who are inactive.  On the subject of laziness, this post at DesiringGod.com indicates that "Paul does not soft-pedal laziness. It is profoundly unchristian. It betrays a gospel that does not demand our activity up front but always produces activity in and through us. And laziness dishonors the power and strength that has come to dwell in us in Christ: God the Spirit himself".  

We must not "tire of doing what is good" (v13) but instead work "night and day".  

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

We must examine our time and push ourselves to direct more of it towards the glory of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond my imagination - not because I deserve but because You are full of love and grace.  I am grateful.  Yet I know I don't deserve it...my sin is daily and great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Genesis 16

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. v2

Just as it happened in Genesis 3, man (Abram) was passive in the face of sin. God made a covenant with Abram that Abram would have a son of his own blood (not a servant) yet Sarai and Abram lacked trust in the Lord and took things into their own hands.  I know I have been guilty of such sin.  Yet I am thankful that I have a definition of biblical manhood and other men have helped recognize the importance of being the man God intends for us.  

A key principle of biblical manhood for Genesis 16 is to reject passivity.  Do not remain in your comfort zone in face of others' needs - including when those in your sphere of influence (family, etc.) engage in sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and worthy of my full attention, not just for me but also for those whom God calls me to lead.  Yet I often fall down and lose focus.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me reject passivity.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message to me today and every day.

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!

Amos 6

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! v1

God does not want lukewarm believers - He wants our full attention and He wants us to be in action.


Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. Ezekiel 33:32

 

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

 

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:45

 

Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. Proverbs 20:4

 

We must live with the end in mind, be eternally-focused and ready so that when the day comes when Jesus returns He does not say ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’(Luke 13:27).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that is slow to anger and abounding in love, full of compassion, mercy and patience for me.  You loved me and chose me despite my sin.  You rescued me and You continue to rescue me...thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion.  I am full of harsh thoughts and words, and I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give myself and Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, our church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

Proverbs 20

Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. v4

God wants us to be in action...it's not just about listening but doing.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

The question becomes what do we do.
1. We love God with our all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22)
2. We love others as ourselves (Matthew 22)
3. As a consequence of #1 and #2, we deny ourselves and our desires and live for God (that is why we exist) for others - to serve and not to be served.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God that never ceases to love me and You bless me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an awesome God.  I am often lazy - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and have them accept You as their Lord and Savior as their choice.  Help me serve You and my family Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 18

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. v9

I've previously posted on being lazy, and this brings to mind how we are to live not for the selfish pleasures of today and for ourselves but for the glory of God and for the eternal.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

We should be examining our idle time to determine how we can rather be in action doing something for the glory of God.  Yes, we can rest and have fun in our lives but we should also challenge ourselves here. 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

See also posts on eternal focus, etc. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You are so full of grace, compassion, mercy, patience, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am lazy and often focus on my selfish desires...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help focus on serving and glorifying You vs myself!  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and to have them love and accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Proverbs 13

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. v4

The dictionary defines a sluggard as "a habitually lazy person".  God does not want us to be lazy but instead to make the most of every opportunity we have.

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Proverbs 10:5

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

 

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12

Part of this is to use all of the gifts and abilities we have - glorify God in all that we do.  See also this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an incredible God You are that You are so full of mercy, grace, compassion, and patience!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am often lazy, neglecting my gifts or just being downright lazy.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 10

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. v5

We all have a job to do.  Our most important job is to tell others about Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).  We also all have spiritual gifts and talents and God expects us to use these gifts for our glory.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters[.] Colossians 3:23

We should not be lazy with our time, treasure or talents - see also the Parable of the Talents.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You provide and You provide abundantly - Thank You Jesus but I am not worth such blessings.  I worry too much and I am often lazy not using my gifts or working to glorify You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.