Today we come to Proverbs 26:13-22 which explains a lot about “sluggards.” The dictionary defines our English word, “sluggard,” as a “slow, habitually lazy, idle person; a dawdler or a loafer.” Thinking about sluggards, we do not expect to see much productive work or useful activity in sluggards. Here in Proverbs, we notice that, through their vain imaginations, sluggards make the silliest excuses to avoid accepting any responsibility. “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” (verse 13). How often does that actually happen? Even in the African bush country – a natural habitat for lions – these animals avoid human contact and do not make prolific appearances. The writer further states that, like swinging doors, sluggards turn over on their beds (verse 14) – a picture of how they repeat their unmotivated indolence and stupidity over and over again. A sluggard “buries his hand in the dish – too lazy to bring it back to his mouth” (verse 15). In other words, sluggards do not take proper care of themselves. Here, we see that sluggards think more highly of themselves (verse 16; cf., Romans 12:3). In addition, they are quick to quarrel with others, they tell unseemly jokes, and they spread gossip. From these biblical descriptions and our ordinary observations about the world, we recognize that sluggards are all around us. The Bible cautions us to rise above the sluggard’s level of conduct.
In Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, we observe God’s prophetic judgment against Edom - the nation that descended from Esau. Almost nothing is known about this prophet, but he delivers a powerful message against Edom. The Edomites were perennial enemies of Israel, and they attacked Israel on at least four occasions (cf., Numbers 20:20-21; 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Chronicles 28:17; and Psalm 137:7). Obadiah writes, “I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you” (verses 2-3). Edom’s great sin was selfish pride. The Edomites said of themselves, “Who can bring us down to the ground?” (verse 3). But God said, “‘I will bring you down,’ declares the LORD. ‘Oh, what a disaster awaits you … Esau will be ransacked, pillaged, and overpowered’” (verses 4-7). At least eight times, Obadiah makes reference to “that day,” when Edom would experience “destruction, misfortune, trouble, disaster, calamity, and experience a return of her deeds upon her own head” (cf., verses 8, 12, 13, 14, and 15). After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Edomites disappeared. We need to heed the truth of Obadiah’s warnings.
In Hebrews 2, we are warned to “pay attention to [all the Scriptures] so that we do not drift away” (verse 1). The Christian life can be compared to a sailing ship; every day, we face the prospects of doubts, hardships, sufferings, and temptations, which – like a vessel whose anchor has come loose or has perhaps lost its moorings – causes the boat to drift away. The Scriptures are our anchor, and we must give them our regular attention. In Hebrews, much is said about drifting away because the author suggests that “drifting away” from the Word of God and from biblical faith is a sin (cf., 1 Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 3:12-13; 6:12; and Revelation 2:4-5). Drifting away is a passive sin that happens deceptively and over time, and it is born on the heels of pride which can lead to additional, deeper sins. Clinging to Jesus Christ – the Word of God in both living and written forms – will help us to keep from drifting away.
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