seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
Ants... ants.... lines and lines of ants carrying big pieces of food.... how do they do that.... what industrious little creatures they are. My Sunday School kids would have gone nuts discussing "ants are in the Bible!".
Unfortunately.... I have heard these verses used to preach the "love of money" crap. I've heard preachers saying we need to store our provisions and gather the harvest.... and those preachers would have you believe that storing is best... even while your neighbor starves. I actually heard one preacher say "because your neighbor is a sluggard".
The other commentaries were more preachy than me this morning. This is from the Bible-studys.org site.
A warning against laziness is appropriate after the discussion on the folly of guaranteeing someone else’s debt, since it is often lazy people who want sureties.
The ant is an example of industry, diligence and planning and serves as a rebuke to a sluggard (a lazy person who lacks self control). Folly sends a lazy man to learn from an ant.
God does not like for us to be lazy (sluggard). The ant throughout history has shown great industry. It is wise to follow someone or something that teaches us good habits. The ant works without another ant over him and, yet, gets his work done and done well. The ant prepares ahead and is never short of food. We can learn a lesson from the ant. We should not have to be driven to work, but should do our work, because it needs to be done. We should work hard and prepare ahead for the winter.
This lazy person (sluggard), loves to sleep late rather than to work. This lazy person uses every kind of excuse to avoid work. He says," I have to sleep a little, I do not have time to work right now".
Poverty will come upon a person who does not want to work. Money is earned by the sweat of the brow and with busy hands. People, who do not like to work, receive no money. This is just a warning against being lazy and a sleepy head.
Just as a victim is overcome by a robber, so is the lazy man with his devotion to sleep rather than work, is led to poverty.
The ant is an example of industry, diligence and planning and serves as a rebuke to a sluggard (a lazy person who lacks self control). Folly sends a lazy man to learn from an ant.
God does not like for us to be lazy (sluggard). The ant throughout history has shown great industry. It is wise to follow someone or something that teaches us good habits. The ant works without another ant over him and, yet, gets his work done and done well. The ant prepares ahead and is never short of food. We can learn a lesson from the ant. We should not have to be driven to work, but should do our work, because it needs to be done. We should work hard and prepare ahead for the winter.
This lazy person (sluggard), loves to sleep late rather than to work. This lazy person uses every kind of excuse to avoid work. He says," I have to sleep a little, I do not have time to work right now".
Poverty will come upon a person who does not want to work. Money is earned by the sweat of the brow and with busy hands. People, who do not like to work, receive no money. This is just a warning against being lazy and a sleepy head.
Just as a victim is overcome by a robber, so is the lazy man with his devotion to sleep rather than work, is led to poverty.
I've known a few sluggards in my life. I knew one man who believed his grandmother when she told him he was only suited to be a "floorwalker". A "floorwalker" was, according to this woman, was a male model at the high end department stores in her day. He was a sluggard and his grandmother.... once was wealthy but died receiving meals on wheels in a dining room where cockroaches played. That guy now weighs 400 pounds... he can't walk... his handsome feet can't handle the strain.
Now staying busy is one thing a man with 700 wives, 300 concubines, and a whole country to run while building a magnificent temple... would be something Solomon would have been very familiar with. I just had a thought.... when he came up with this Proverb.... was he watching the men working on the Temple construction from far away. Then all those busy humans would look like little ants scurrying around doing their jobs.
Maybe he's lamenting those lazy humans that are always late to work or calling in sick or too good for the job or willing to let the other guy do it. Now that's something an industrious guy would lament.... sick days are non-productive.... sluggard days will indeed hurt the pay check....
I've been homeless... with three kids.... and I've always been an ant.
Not all homeless and poor are sluggards.... Job wasn't a sluggard.
Sometimes an ant has to take care of the mess the sluggards left behind.
Those are the ants with that larger load.
Not all homeless and poor are sluggards.... Job wasn't a sluggard.
Sometimes an ant has to take care of the mess the sluggards left behind.
Those are the ants with that larger load.
