In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is ashamed of his father and does not want to become like him. His father, Unoka, was known for idleness during his life.
Since Unoka did not provide for his family, “He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat” (Achebe, The Longman Anthology of World Literature). His laziness and unwillingness to work had serious consequences, both for him and his family.
Scripture warns us against living like a sluggard. There is nothing wrong with resting from our work since the Bible tells us God chose to rest on the seventh day after He finished creating all things (Genesis 2:2-3).
However, we need to guard ourselves against an attitude or spirit of laziness that discourages us from working. The proverb about a “ little sleep, a little slumber” reminds us of the dangers of being a sluggard and the need to work diligently.
Background, Context, and Meaning
The phrase “a little sleep, a little slumber” is found in Proverbs 6:10 and 24:33-34. As a book of the Bible that falls into the genre of wisdom literature, Proverbs gives us numerous short yet profound statements. Solomon is directly mentioned as the author of this book of the Bible (Proverbs 1:1).
His authorship is further confirmed by the rest of Scripture since he received wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29). Also, the Bible reports that Solomon “composed some 3,000 proverbs” (1 Kings 4:32, NLT).
Proverbs 6:10 presents the first instance of “a little sleep, a little slumber.” This verse is part of a larger context directed toward “the sluggard” or lazy person. Solomon instructs the sluggard to consider the ways of the ant (Proverbs 6:6).
As he instructs, “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:7-8).
In contrast to the industrious ant, the sluggard tells himself that he can indulge in “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” (Proverbs 6:10). His actions show laziness and an unwillingness to work.
As a result, “poverty” and “scarcity” will come upon the sluggard (Proverbs 6:11). Although the lack of food and resources will surprise the sluggard, those who are wise understand why he is in that position (Proverbs 19:15).
Like the use of an ant in Proverbs 6, chapter 24 uses the example of the sluggard’s vineyard to provide a warning against laziness. Solomon describes an overgrown field with weeds and a dilapidated stone wall (Proverbs 24:30-31).
Applying wisdom to what he saw, he arrived at the same conclusion as he did in Proverbs 6:10-11. The person who lazily puts off working will find themselves in poor conditions (Proverbs 24:33-34).
The Negative Effects of Laziness
As the proverb shows us, the idea that people can give in to the temptation of laziness and rest “a little,” putting off their work for another time is unwise. Individuals will quickly find themselves lacking the necessities for life if they are unwilling to work for food, clothing, and shelter.
Most people can see the truth of this proverb since if they do not work, they will not get paid. Without that paycheck, people cannot afford food, proper clothing, or the rent or mortgage for their house.
Another result of laziness is that others are required to step in and work to support the sluggard. For instance, a father could lazily refuse to provide for his family.
His wife, not wanting their family to fall into starvation or homelessness, must then work harder to support herself and her children, in addition to the able-bodied yet lazy husband. The children, when they are old enough, may also acquire a job to help provide for their family.
The early church experienced the side effects of people who were unwilling to work. Certain individuals in the Thessalonian church were idle and did not work, preferring the life of a busybody (2 Thessalonians 3:11).
However, Paul gave them the command that whoever was unwilling to work would not receive food to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
The church should not support those who lazily refuse to work. Rather, they should reserve their compassionate giving of food and resources for those who are truly in need.
The Blessing and Responsibility of Work
The biblical warning against laziness is relevant to our lives today, just as it was during Solomon’s time. God gave humankind the ability to work. When He created the first man, He set Adam in the garden to “tend and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15, NLT).
Notice that Adam was working before sin entered the human race. Work, therefore, is a good part of our lives.
Although sin can damage a person’s view of work, the Bible encourages us to live industriously so we can provide for our families and give to those in need (Ephesians 4:28 and 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
The ability to work is a blessing from the Lord since He gives us the ability to make money and provide for our needs (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Working to provide for ourselves and others is also a responsibility. As believers, we trust in God for provision, which includes the provision of a job. The early church expected that believers would care for their families and extended relatives who could not care for themselves, including widows (1 Timothy 5:4, 16).
As Paul noted in his letter to Timothy, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
Therefore, laziness not only endangers a person and their family, but it also dishonors the Lord. God created humans to productively impact the world around them.
Work is not a result of sin or evil. Instead, it is a blessing and responsibility. As believers, we need to wisely follow the example of the diligent ant, not the sluggard.
A Warning Against Misinterpretation
An important note to remember is that the Book of Proverbs presents us with general wisdom. As Sid S. Buzzell notes in the Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, “Many of the proverbial maxims should be recognized as guidelines, not absolute observations; they are not ironclad promises.”
This applies to the proverb about the sluggard. We can recognize that people who are unwilling to work generally fall into poverty, but this is not always the case.
Also, just because a person is in poverty does not mean they are a sluggard. Many people throughout the world are in terrible poverty. Their lack of food, water, shelter, and other basic needs, such as medical care, is not because of a lack of effort.
Often, these people labor in harsh conditions for long hours to earn meager pay, which is not sufficient to support themselves or their families.
Instead of twisting God’s Word to accuse these people of laziness, Christians should put their faith in action and display God’s love for the poor. Those who are needy, including orphans and widows, are close to God’s heart, and they should be close to ours as well (Psalm 140:12; James 1:27).
Why Does This Matter?
The proverb, “a little sleep, a little slumber,” warns us against laziness. People who are unwilling to work to support themselves and their families are at risk of falling into poverty, lacking the necessities of life.
Instead of treating work as a nuisance, we need to remember that God has blessed us with the ability to work. His loving provision includes opportunities to get a job.
All of us are wise to consider the example of the sluggard and examine our lives to see if we struggle with laziness.
If we experience the temptation to be lazy or to shirk our duties, we can pray and ask God for His help. Let us follow the example of the industrious ant and seek to glorify the Lord in our work.
For further reading:
Why Did the Lord Give Us Sleep?
How Does the Bible Define a Sluggard?
Does God Give Prophetic Dreams to Us Today?
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