The "Wise" Sluggard

For Friday, October 19, 2007
Proverbs 26:16

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

Oh so true! The sluggard is not lazy because he lacks instruction, but because he will not receive it. And he does not argue that he refuses to be instructed, but that no one understands him. He would be happy to listen to someone who understands him. Of course, by understanding he means accepts his own view of himself. He can receive the same counsel by seven different persons at different times and still not see or agree with them.

This is the catch-22 of helping the sluggard and the fool. They will listen only to those who accept their view of the world and of themselves. Therefore, reasoning has little value. What is required is discipline, of which a number of proverbs have already spoken.

And so the pattern to deal with the sluggard and the fool is to first try reasoning, then move to discipline. Do not frustrate yourself trying to reason over and over. Do not create more trouble by giving him chance after chance to reform himself. Speak the truth in love; give reasoning the first try; then move to consistent discipline. And do not give in until his behavior actually changes. Such an approach to the sluggard is the best hope for him. Until he bears consequences for his actions, he will not change his perspective; and until he changes his perspective, he will not change his behavior.

No Motivation

For Thursday, October 18, 2007
Proverbs 26:15

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard finds it wearisome to do the most basic of tasks that nourish him. He is "so tired." His problem is not depression; nor is it a physiological illness, both of which can plague any of us. What the sluggard lacks is motivation. Nothing inspires him; nothing brings pleasure except sleep. The most creative thing he is able to do is come up with excuses for why he does nothing.

In the previous proverb we spoke of his lacking discipline, of giving in to an extreme - in this case, sleeping. He has the same problem of the workaholic - unable to discipline himself to keep a balance. Another way of looking at his problem is his unwillingness to "make an effort." Each day we must make the effort to go about our daily tasks. We make the effort because we are motivated to accomplish something. Our primary motivation is to provide for ourselves. We eat, ultimately, to live. We work to buy what we eat. We think it necessary for survival to have family and friends. Thus, we cultivate relationships and work to provide for our family. The list can go on and become quite complex, but the bottomline is that we must be motivated for whatever we do. The sluggard lacks basic motivation.

We must be careful not to fall into the same rut. The higher and worthier our motivation, the greater work we will do and the greater pleasure we will experience. As life falls into a routine in which we forget our reasons for doing what we do, we slide almost imperceptibly into the life of a sluggard. And the day comes when the most basic of tasks become a burden.

Do not forget the one motivation that is to guide every day of your life. It is wrapped up in why you exist. It is to glorify God. And every small, routine task serves that purpose if you remember why you exist and take delight in that purpose of glorifying God. You can only delight in that purpose if you delight in the God you are to glorify. The sluggard has no love. If you are growing weary of living each day, check if you have not forgotten the love of God that first gave you joy and meaning.

The Sluggard's Instinct

For Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Proverbs 26:14

As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed.

There is one form of action a sluggard does well; he turns his body smoothly to the other side in bed. He has got sleeping down pat. Indeed, sleeping is the one activity that he does not have to be cajoled to do. It is his instinct, in his blood.

That instinct is in all of us and is a good instinct. It is sleep that rejuvenates our body for activity. Many people do not get enough sleep through too much activity. Sleep is good, but like with most things, too much of a good thing is bad for us.

The problem of the sluggard is that he is an extremist. He does not practice moderation. He is no different from the alcoholic or workaholic or anyone else obsessed with one activity. His happens to be sleeping. And he must discipline himself like everyone else to practice moderation. Everyone who over engages in an activity does because he likes it. It is a pleasure he cannot control even when it brings bad consequences. Sleeping can be addictive. So can lying on the couch watching TV. So can any form of goofing off. Taking a break is an activity to control.

How disciplined are you? Do you get enough sleep, but not too much sleep? Do you work hard, but take the necessary breaks (though not too many) to rejuvenate your body? Self-discipline is needed to keep a healthy balance. What do you need to be disciplined about?

Lion in the Streets

For Wednesday, October 16, 2007
Proverbs 26:13

The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!"

And so he stays home instead of going to work. And so the excuses never end.

"The weather looks bad; I might catch cold."
"I'm not feeling well; I should save my energy."
"The traffic is too bad to go out in."
"I might miss a phone call for a better job."
"I think there is a terrorist alert."

And the number one remark: "I'll start tomorrow."

The difference between the good worker and the sluggard has nothing to do with circumstances and everything to do with attitude. The good worker will overcome obstacles to get to work; the sluggard will use any excuse for an obstacle. The good worker applies himself to whatever is the task; the sluggard is always looking for the "right fit." The good worker makes the most of his circumstances; the sluggard is always complaining of bad luck. The good worker works his way up to better positions; the sluggard seems to always have supervisors who show favoritism to other workers. The good worker is thankful for the work he has; the sluggard is never thankful. The good worker takes pride in the work he does; the sluggard takes pride only in getting paid for little work.

In truth, the "lion in the streets" is very real for the sluggard. The "lion" is a job.

The Proud "Wise"

For Monday, October 15, 2007
Proverbs 26:12

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

There very sign of wisdom is knowing how little one knows. A person cannot attain wisdom until he recognizes how small he is in the universe. Thus, there are many persons with high IQs and with great knowledge, but are as fools. They mistake their actually small amount of knowledge for wisdom.

There is more hope for fools because some fools do know they are lacking in mental ability and through discipline can be trained to curb their folly. But the person wise in his own eyes cannot receive correction. He doesn't believe he needs it. The idea is repugnant to him. It is not intelligence that keeps him from correction, and certainly now wisdom. The wise person seeks knowledge and correction. It is pride that prevents him from receiving humbly needed correction. And pride is the most difficult barrier to break down, far more difficult than folly.

Remember this. However much people may protest that intellectual honesty keeps them from acknowledging God and his truth; the ultimate problem is pride. Until a person is willing to bow the knee before a Being who has absolute authority over him, he cannot attain wisdom. Until he is willing to acknowledge his utter dependence upon another for forgivness and removal of sin, he cannot exercise wisdom. He may have a measure of discernment that compares favorable with the rest of mankind. God does give a measure of truth through general revelation. But without the humility to receive the truth of the gospel, that very measure of discernment will keep the individual from acknowledging the Truth. He will think he is on the right path, when he is as far away as the most foolish fool.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord..." (Proverbs 3:5-7a).