Today’s Wisdom Wednesday isn’t about a single verse or passage, and it’s not very deep. I think God must be working on this specific area in my life, because the last few times I’ve been reading Proverbs, all the slothfulness verses keep leaping out at me.
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. Proverbs 12:27
One area that’s easy for me to be slothful is with food. I might not put away dinner right away, and then I’m afraid to eat it because I don’t want to make my family sick. Or I put perfectly tasty leftovers in the refrigerator and forget about it instead of using it up. I’ll have to think about how this verse might affect how I interact with my children.
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. Proverbs 15:19
I know this one affects how I interact with my children. My own laziness limits what I do, more times than I’d like to admit.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15
I know better (wonder how many times I say that). But how often I indulge my flesh when I’m feeling lethargic, as though being lazy is going to cure me of lethargy. In fact, it works the other way around. This verse I need to think on more. It’s simply a matter of telling myself the truth instead of deceiving myself. How dumb can I be? Don’t answer that. 🙂
Has reading these verses actually changed what I do? Well, yes, it has. I’ve still got a long way to go, but a number of times I’ve remembered these verses and made the choice to please God and do right, instead of making the choice to please myself. God is working in my life, and that’s an exciting thought.
Are you pursuing wisdom? Tell us about it.
On the subject of laziness, I tend to be too permissive because I am too lazy to correct my children, I tend to let things slide. I was at Debi Prydes’ latest conference and I was deeply convicted about this permissive behavior. I wrote this poem~
Change me Lord, this is a must
I need to learn to in You trust
All I have belongs to You
Can I surrender the way You need me too
The children you’ve entrusted me with,
it seems they have gone adrift
Help me to teach them in the way they should go
Help me direct them, so they may KNOW
that You are sovreign, You are Lord
to live in sin they can’t afford
the price for sin, it is too high
Satan’s lures, they are a lie
Help their little hearts to be tender
so that to Your will they can surrender
Your will for them is the only way
they will be happy day by day
I am Your vessel, please work through me
to be the Mom that I should be
By: Viv Butts Nov. ’07
Thank you for your poem, Vivian! I’ve had those same prayers, too. You are right. We can be too permissive because we are too lazy. I’ve shamefully pretended not to notice some misbehavior because I didn’t want to take the time to correct the behavior. 🙁