Proverbs' portrait of the sluggard is extreme, even comical. Nevertheless, laziness, in all its subtle forms, has serious consequences. You can listen to a sermon I preached on the subject. And the following is a poem by Isaac Watts based on Proverbs 24:30-34.
'Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him complain,
"You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again."
As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed,
Turns his sides and his shoulders and his heavy head.
"A little more sleep, and a little more slumber;"
Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours without number,
And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about sauntering, or trifling he stands.
I pass'd by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags;
And his money still wastes till he starves or he begs.
I made him a visit, still hoping to find
That he took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talked of eating and drinking;
But scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.
Said I then to my heart, "Here's a lesson for me,"
This man's but a picture of what I might be:
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and reading.
by Isaac Watts
4 Comments
Thanks for posting this wonderful poem. I twitted it.
Sooooo convicting, Josh. Thanks for preaching on this. I too have NEVER failed to lift my hand from the bag of chips to my mouth.... but laziness can be subtle, and I appreciate your drawing my attention to areas I had never really given thought to, and then or course (as usual) drawing my attention to the precious gospel of grace.
*OF course. :-)
This poem provided a great discussion starter with our children which in turn motivated my son to research the life of Isaac Watts. We home school and it provided us with a great rabbit trail...Spontaneous learning can be the best!
Thanks for posting it.
Laurie.
British Columbia,Canada
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