The Soul of The Sluggard

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Proverbs 13:4

I have never lived in another generation than the one that I live in, so it would be fallible for me to compare this generation to another, but I have seen a fundamental shift in the lifestyle of the people around me. There is a laziness that permeates and really defines this generation of young people and old people alike. I have heard it referred to as the “entitlement generation.” We feel that we deserve everything and everything should be handed to us on a silver platter. We view the world as a buffet line in that once we are in the door, we should be able to have anything we see and when we are denied we feel as if we have been stripped of our proverbial “rights”. Our attitude can be summed up in one statement, “the soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing.”

Laziness is not a trait that should define a child of God. My dear friend, the word of God makes one thing very clear, we deserve nothing but death and hell. I am sure it is a sickening feeling the Lord has when He looks at His children who are more than able to work, yet they lay around wasting the energy and time God has given to them. Paul made it clear that if a man refused to work, then he should not eat. If you have the ability to get out of bed and work, that is what you should do. God gave you feet so that you could travel about. God gave you hands so that you could use them. A sluggard is not something that pleases God. He is very plain spoken when He says that they shall have nothing. Oh my friend, are you able to work today? Praise the Lord for the strength to work and then be sure to labor in that position as unto the Lord because God blesses the hand of the diligent.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep...

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

As a young boy I remember the nightly ritual that transpired before I would pillow my head to sleep. I would brush my teeth, wash my face, put on my pajamas, and say a little prayer. This is the nightly ritual for most children before they pillow their head at night. The little prayer that parents teach their children to say serves two purposes: it builds the habit of prayer in their life and it gives them a sense of security in God the Father. Often times the night brings fear and fright into the hearts of children, which keeps them from getting a good night’s rest. As the adolescent years give way to teen years, this fear seems to flee the minds of unsuspecting young people as they nightly sleep with little care or concern. But something happens as they grow out of their teen years and become young adults and ultimately full-grown adults, this fear of the night returns. Many fear intruders. Some fear torrential weather. Some worry about the events of tomorrow. Whatever the case, fear grips their heart and hinders them from sleeping in peace.

May I say this is not the will of God. God wishes that all His children slumber in peace. He does not desire you to fear every noise that sounds in the night. He gave sleep to be a blessing, not a burden. God has promised to protect as we sleep and to doubt that is an attack upon sovereignty. He does not yearn for you to stay awake through the night worrying about the torments of the unknown or the problems of tomorrow. Fret not; if tomorrow holds a problem, God is already there. The psalmist boldly proclaimed that he would rest at night because the Lord guards and keeps. The God that redeemed us from sin’s power is the God that protects us through the night. Sleep in peace.

Amnon's Downfall

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab…
II Samuel 13:3

The story of Amnon’s fall is a story of how a small weakness can crumble a mighty structure. Here sits Amnon, the son of David, the king of Israel. He was a man of great passion, potential, and position. He had life and the kingdom at his fingertips. His fortune had no bounds and his future had no limits. He was destined for a life of greatness. But all at once, his destiny was changed with one little phrase, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab.” Amnon’s great weakness was not money. It was not jealousy. Amnon’s great weakness was his association and friendship with Jonadab. There is no doubt in my mind that Amnon had many times been around Jonadab and many times heeded his advice, and that weakened his defenses when Jonadab offered his terrible advice concerning Tamar. While some do not agree with me, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jonadab, whose name means “subtle” was the downfall of Amnon and had it not been for Jonadab’s counsel, Amnon would have never raped Tamar. How things would have been different for Amnon if this sentence had never been so, “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab.” I am certain that his life would have been completely different and perhaps he may have been the king of Israel instead of Solomon if he had not had the association with Jonadab that he did.

I wonder how many of God’s people have missed out on God’s plan and purpose in their lives because of the people that they hang around. I have seen young people ruin their lives because they would not segregate themselves from wrong influences and those who did not share the same view of Christ as they did. As it was in the case of Amnon and Jonadab, it is not the infidel or heathen that take us from the faith, it is the “subtle” ones that cause us to drift from the faith and our testimony. It is not the raging alcoholic, but the social drinker who cause us to ruin our testimony. It is not the prostitute, but the “flirtatious looker” that draw us away from our purity and fidelity. Oh dear Christian, do not let your guard down against the attacks of the devil. Remember, just as the mighty cedar falls with one swing of the axe, so will you topple with one wrong association.