Read
6You lazy people can learn
by watching an anthill.
7Ants don't have leaders,
8but they store up food
during harvest season.
9How long will you lie there
doing nothing at all?
When are you going to get up
and stop sleeping?
10 Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.
11Suddenly, everything is gone,
as though it had been taken
by an armed robber.
15If you are lazy
and sleep your time away,
you will starve.
18Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.
19Work hard, and you will have
a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.
Reflect
We meet in this passage two types of people who are in trouble. One is a lazy couch potato who never gets around to achieving much of anything. Then there’s the dream chaser who is going nowhere fast.
There are days when frankly, I just lack motivation. Maybe it’s raining outside, or a discouraging word has sucked the wind out of my sails. Consequently, few things are checked off the “to do” list. Then there are the distracted days, when, honestly, things get done, just not the important stuff. Procrastination is easily practiced daily!
In Prov. 6:6 Solomon invites us to take a look at the ant – he is self-motivated, prepares ahead and is a hard worker. The point is: you have to get your inspiration somewhere. Just sitting there can be habit forming and a very dangerous one at that. In the same way, putting off is a different form of sluggardly behavior. It is not easy to crawl out of that place.
Philippians 4:13 tells us “we can all things through Christ who gives us strength” (NIV).
Another scenario that comes to everyone at some point is chasing dreams that simply should be abandoned. The pursuit of them is expensive and it leads to poverty. The challenge is to know whether to continue this dream or to walk away. In James 1:5 we are invited to ask God for wisdom when we are lacking. He is not stingy with it.
So, the question is, Are you just sitting there? Putting off things that you really ought to do today? And is that dream you are pursuing honestly the right thing to do?
Respond
Father God, In you is all wisdom and strength. Would you come and inspire my heart to do all that You ask of me today? Give me courage to stare my dreams in the face and wisdom to know what my next move is even if it means walking away.
Donna Dyck
Donna and her husband Bill are parents of 4 adult children and have 9 grandchildren. They have been pastoring at Toronto Alliance church for 28 years. Donna has written 2 books, Confessions of a Not So Average Girl and Confessions of an Unlikely Pastors wife. She has spoken at many conferences, seminars, and events over the years. She and her husband have just written a Devotional called Hope for an Unwanted Journey which will be published soon and is for parents, especially those who are walking through the valley of addiction or mental illness with their loved ones.