Sleeping Sluggard Beside Ants Carrying GrainBible World
6:9Proverbs 6:9
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
The challenge is spoken to the sluggard in his sleep and idleness, pictured as lying asleep and inactive with folded hands, asking how long he will sleep and when he will arise to work. Habitual, persistent labor is necessary for life, and it is honorable and beneficial to body and mind, especially active outdoor work and cultivation of the soil. Industrious habits and self-support are valuable, and the desire to bear one's own weight rather than depend on others is a worthy ambition.
The sluggard's sleep is a picture of spiritual inactivity for those who know the truth yet remain idle in Christian service instead of working. Even those who claim to believe the final message of mercy, and that the last message of mercy is now being given to the world, may be asleep to their duty. The question calls them to wake up and act rather than neglect their work, taking up missionary work and the work God has given them to do.
Remaining in spiritual sleep and delay is dangerous, for if God's people stay asleep Satan will gain power over them and their destruction is certain. They must wake, examine themselves, confess their wrongs and repent while mercy remains, so that pardon may be recorded before judgment. The opportunity to respond is brief, refusal to act leaves them without excuse, and later cries for help will be too late.
The challenge is spoken to the sluggard in his sleep and idleness, pictured as lying asleep and inactive with folded hands, asking how long he will sleep and when he will arise to work. Habitual, persistent labor is necessary for life, and it is honorable and beneficial to body and mind, especially active outdoor work and cultivation of the soil. Industrious habits and self-support are valuable, and the desire to bear one's own weight rather than depend on others is a worthy ambition.
The sluggard's sleep is a picture of spiritual inactivity for those who know the truth yet remain idle in Christian service instead of working. Even those who claim to believe the final message of mercy, and that the last message of mercy is now being given to the world, may be asleep to their duty. The question calls them to wake up and act rather than neglect their work, taking up missionary work and the work God has given them to do.
Remaining in spiritual sleep and delay is dangerous, for if God's people stay asleep Satan will gain power over them and their destruction is certain. They must wake, examine themselves, confess their wrongs and repent while mercy remains, so that pardon may be recorded before judgment. The opportunity to respond is brief, refusal to act leaves them without excuse, and later cries for help will be too late.