December 5
PROVERBS 21
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
– Proverbs 21:21-26
PROVERBS 21 THE LAZY MAN’S DEMISE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Those who desire things but do not want to work at getting them
They are the ones who think highly of themselves and are entitled
The lazy man craves for many things but do not want to lift his hands
They expect others to give them their wishes and their demands
All day long, they sit on their butts and wait for things to happen
Without a clue that they are plunging into the pit of destruction.
According to Psychology today website, the word ‘laziness’ arose in the sixteenth century; older terms for germane notions are indolence and sloth. Indolence derives from the Latin indolentia, ‘without pain’. Sloth has more moral and spiritual connotations. In the Christian tradition, sloth is one of the seven deadly sins because it invites evil-doing and undermines God’s plan for humankind. in Colossians 3:23, it says that “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” and in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Paul gives them this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” We clearly see the consequences of sloth such as verse 25 says. It leads to ruin and eventually to death.
REFLECTION
• Share some insights on the negative effects of laziness in someone’s life?
