Gold Nugget
Verse 9-11: How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep-- 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Commentary
It would be complete denial if we didn't acknowledge a significant decline in work ethic in America. More and more kids are raised in the air condition, overfed, and engage in excessive consumption of television, smart phones, and video games. Young adults are postponing moving out, are staying home longer and resist going to work. More and more people are not ashamed to sleep in until the afternoon and hang out with friends or play video games all night. I know people that have started families of their own that still can't get themselves out of bed and be the mom and dad that God expects of them. Eventually, this lifestyle will cost them everything. Today's "gold nugget" proclaims, "They will come to poverty."
Two perspectives are appropriate for today's gold nugget. First, from the perspective of a parent. We must accept the responsibility we have to train up our children in a way that would be pleasing to God. We must not enable our children to adopt this lazy, self-centered way of life. We have the responsibility to God to teach them good work ethics and how to put others before themselves. Second, we must look at things from the perspective of the lazy person that wants to sleep all day and avoids work. Repent... there is no other way to address this issue. The scriptures are clear that this is an ungodly lifestyle and destructive to our other relationships. We see it in the scriptures and that should be enough for us to change.
Prayer
Lord, from the perspective of a parent, help me to teach my children to be responsible contributing, hard working adults. Give us the conviction to challenge and expect this level of maturity from our kids. Also Lord, from a self perspective, I want to be diligent in my work for my family and my work in your kingdom. Help me to rise in the morning with a commitment to you, your Word and my responsibilities as a Father. Amen
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