1 Timothy 4:14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Proverbs 24:30-34
{30} I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; {31} And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. {32} Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. {33} Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: {34} So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
When the wise man considered the deplorable condition of the field and vineyard, he understood the problem and received instruction from it (someone said, "fools won't learn from the wise, but the wise will learn from fools"). He makes an observation (vs.30-31), an interpretation (v.32), and an application (vs.33-34). He did not blame the thorns and nettles for overtaking and covering it, and he did not blame the stone wall for breaking down over time, because those things would not have happened had there been a diligent farmer taking care of the field and vineyard. The instruction that he received by considering this was that when a man neglects his responsibilities by sleeping when he should be working, little by little, he will eventually come to poverty. It is not a sin for a man to sleep, but it is wrong for a man to be sleeping when he should be working.
The field and vineyard did not get into this condition overnight; it happened little by little. The farmer noticed some thorns and nettles creeping up but thought it was no big deal. After all, a few thorns and nettles would not destroy his whole vineyard. So, he took a nap when he should have been pulling them up. He noticed that a stone had fallen off the wall but thought it was no big deal. After all, the wall was still good enough to keep out the wild beasts. So, he took a nap instead of repairing the wall. The thorns and nettles kept coming, and the stones on the wall kept falling, but the farmer kept sleeping in late, napping in the afternoon, and procrastinating his duties until the condition of his field and vineyard was so bad that it would be a tremendous task to clean it all up. So, he just let it go.
This man was slothful because because he decided to sleep when he should have been working. This man was void of understanding because he didn't understand that he would eventually come to poverty if he continued to neglect the field and vineyard which was his livelihood. The problem was not the thorns, nettles, and broken down wall because that is just the natural course of things (Gen. 3:17-19). The problem was the lazy and foolish man that refused to sweat in order to keep his field and vineyard fruitful. No doubt he had plenty of excuses to justify his laziness (Prov. 26:13-16).
God commanded Adam to work in the garden BEFORE he fell into sin and brought a curse upon the earth. Work is not part of the curse, but the curse does make work harder. It is the will of God for man to work (2 Thess. 3:10-15). To be slothful, or to be a sluggard (Bible words for lazy), is sin. Although it is possible for a person to fall into poverty through tragic circumstances and no fault of their own, the majority of people that are living in poverty in this land of great opportunity are just LAZY.
Let's apply this passage spiritually. It is possible for a person to be diligent in physical and earthly matters, but be slothful in spiritual and heavenly matters. Let's say that the field and vineyard represents the heart (Prov. 4:23), the home (Ps. 128:3), and the local church (1 Cor. 3:9).
As we look around today we see professing Christians living carnal and worldly lives, homes that are falling apart, and churches that are compromising, decaying, and dying. We blame this evil world and say, "It is hard to live clean in such a dirty world." We blame the devil and say, "he is on the attack as never before." But this world has been evil since the fall of man, and the devil has been on the attack from the beginning. Like thorns, nettles, and a stone wall breaking down, this is just the natural course of things. Let's stop blaming our problems on the world and devil. They are just doing what they have always done.
The real problem is that when we fall asleep spiritually and neglect our spiritual responsibilities, little by little, we become more and more unfruitful and eventually fall into spiritual poverty. When we just passively let things run their natural course, they will always run DOWN.
The field and vineyard did not get into this condition overnight; it happened little by little. The farmer noticed some thorns and nettles creeping up but thought it was no big deal. After all, a few thorns and nettles would not destroy his whole vineyard. So, he took a nap when he should have been pulling them up. He noticed that a stone had fallen off the wall but thought it was no big deal. After all, the wall was still good enough to keep out the wild beasts. So, he took a nap instead of repairing the wall. The thorns and nettles kept coming, and the stones on the wall kept falling, but the farmer kept sleeping in late, napping in the afternoon, and procrastinating his duties until the condition of his field and vineyard was so bad that it would be a tremendous task to clean it all up. So, he just let it go.
This man was slothful because because he decided to sleep when he should have been working. This man was void of understanding because he didn't understand that he would eventually come to poverty if he continued to neglect the field and vineyard which was his livelihood. The problem was not the thorns, nettles, and broken down wall because that is just the natural course of things (Gen. 3:17-19). The problem was the lazy and foolish man that refused to sweat in order to keep his field and vineyard fruitful. No doubt he had plenty of excuses to justify his laziness (Prov. 26:13-16).
God commanded Adam to work in the garden BEFORE he fell into sin and brought a curse upon the earth. Work is not part of the curse, but the curse does make work harder. It is the will of God for man to work (2 Thess. 3:10-15). To be slothful, or to be a sluggard (Bible words for lazy), is sin. Although it is possible for a person to fall into poverty through tragic circumstances and no fault of their own, the majority of people that are living in poverty in this land of great opportunity are just LAZY.
Let's apply this passage spiritually. It is possible for a person to be diligent in physical and earthly matters, but be slothful in spiritual and heavenly matters. Let's say that the field and vineyard represents the heart (Prov. 4:23), the home (Ps. 128:3), and the local church (1 Cor. 3:9).
As we look around today we see professing Christians living carnal and worldly lives, homes that are falling apart, and churches that are compromising, decaying, and dying. We blame this evil world and say, "It is hard to live clean in such a dirty world." We blame the devil and say, "he is on the attack as never before." But this world has been evil since the fall of man, and the devil has been on the attack from the beginning. Like thorns, nettles, and a stone wall breaking down, this is just the natural course of things. Let's stop blaming our problems on the world and devil. They are just doing what they have always done.
The real problem is that when we fall asleep spiritually and neglect our spiritual responsibilities, little by little, we become more and more unfruitful and eventually fall into spiritual poverty. When we just passively let things run their natural course, they will always run DOWN.
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Romans 13:11-14
{11} And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. {12} The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. {13} Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. {14} But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
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