Classic KJV - Proverbs 22:13

Translation

The Hebrew word for “slain,” רשע (rā•šāʽ, pronounced “rah-sha”), refers to “an accident, manslaughter, premeditation, or governmental execution,” says James Swanson in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains: Hebrew (e-edition; Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997). The sluggard imagines all of these terrible possibilities. It’s not only that he might have an accident in the street or perhaps be bitten by a dog. No. He imagines even more dangerous possibilities. There’s a lion out there just waiting to pounce and savagely devour him. It’s best to stay inside, safe and secure.

The sluggard doesn’t speak of minor nuisances such as bad weather or a barking dog, but manufactures ridiculous reasons to justify inactivity. He sees trouble everywhere and rejects any risk. He convinces himself there’s a lion outside. And who could fault him for avoiding a lion? He’s just being safety conscious. After all, it’s safety first! As one wit said, “No one works, no one gets hurt.”

Slow Death

The sluggard doesn’t recognize the cost of his inactivity—its slow poison. As he hides in his comfort zone, his world shrinks, and his life passes. It’s like the lesson about boiling a frog. If the frog is dropped quickly into boiling water, it immediately jumps out. If the frog is placed in a pot of cool water on a stove, and the heat then turned up, it just sits there. Unawares, it gets accustomed to the rising temperature, until it’s slowly cooked to death. Similarly a sluggard loves his own comfort way too much for his own good, cooking himself in comfort.

There are always risks in every effort. Every business endeavor must be tested eventually in the marketplace. This is true about books, technology, music, works of art: Anything worth doing must be able to withstand public scrutiny. We can imagine great things, but until they are publicly tested and vetted in “the real world,” they remain only our secret scheme, and perhaps, sadly, a deluded sedative!

Is Home Always “Home Sweet Home?”

The sluggard likes to remain at home, maybe even alone in his room. He loves computer games, exercising his imagination, but he’s reluctant to do the real work to get his dreams out into the public forum. He’s unwilling to engage with others—whether in sport or in trade. So if a sluggard is afraid of going out into the street, imagine how reluctant he would be of going into the jungle, where real lions live.

Laziness is closely linked to cowardice and selfishness. Entrepreneurs are usually hard working risk-takers. Courage and industry go together, as do laziness and stinginess. The real danger lurks within the sluggard’s comfort zone. It will hurt him more than the lion outside. Refer to the dangers of excessive sleep, using the keyword “sleep.” Laziness impoverishes and suffocates him in his own little world.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus was not afraid to take risks.

Even before His crucifixion, Jesus knew danger. The Pharisees warned Him to flee, because King Herod wanted to kill Him. Jesus held His ground (Luke 13:31). Yet on other occasions, He escaped out of desperate situations (Luke 4:28-30). Jesus moved not by calculating his danger or safety, but as He was led by the invisible Holy Spirit. Any who are led by the Spirit are not timid but bold (2 Timothy 1:7).

Jesus once spoke of three servants who were entrusted with some capital by their master. Two servants invested it and did well, but the third did nothing, afraid of any possible loss. His unwillingness to work cost him dearly when the master returned (Matthew 25:14-30).