Proverbs 22

WEEK  6                                      Proverbs 22

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" Proverbs 22:13

 

This fear here could be real. If you lived in a village on the edge of the Judean countryside in Solomon's time, a lion could be a real concern. However, what I noticed in this scripture is not that fear is making this person lazy, but a lazy person is using fear to justify their lack of activity.

 

People still do this today. I don't want to belittle real fear. Fear is hard to deal with. I am not trying to point a finger, but placing a mirror. You might look in and say, "No, that's not me." or you might look in the mirror and see something you may need to change.

 

The person in this scripture is saying things like, "I'm going to get fired anyway, why try?"  "They hate people like me, why apply for the job?" or "My work will never be good enough, so why waste my time?" and the like.

 

I will admit, at times, I fight the idea that my work isn't good enough. Maybe when you read this, you will say, " You're right, it isn't that good."

 

However, at least I am not using fear as an excuse not to try.

 

Here is my thought, the more we give in to the fear of "what may happen" the stronger fear becomes.

 

Yes, there may be a monster blocking your way, but then again, the monster might not be as big as you think. The only way to know is to go and find out. One thing is certain: if you don't go out "into the square," you will never succeed. You will only become lazy (or lazier).

 

Don't use fear as an excuse. Don’t allow fear to hold you back. 

Pro 22:1-29

(1)  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

(2)  The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

(3)  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

(4)  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

(5)  Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

(6)  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(7)  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

(8)  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

(9)  He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

(10)  Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

(11)  He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

(12)  The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

(13)  The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

(14)  The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

(15)  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

(16)  He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

(17)  Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

(18)  For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

(19)  That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

(20)  Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

(21)  That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

(22)  Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

(23)  For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

(24)  Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

(25)  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

(26)  Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

(27)  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

(28)  Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

(29)  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.