Parenting by the Book
STUDY 309
Text: Proverbs 26
27 May 2007
Dear Parents,
MORE ABOUT THE LAZY MAN
There is quite a bit said about the lazy man. Let us consider the following texts. May our children never love indolence!
The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.Proverbs 26:15
1. How lazy could a person become?
a) Imagine a lazy man who is also hungry.
b) Hunger drives him to put his hand into his bowl of food.
c) But laziness takes over; he deems it too tiring to bring the food into his mouth!
2. Laziness and foolishness combined
a) To be foolish is already undesirable.
b) To be lazy as well makes it even worse!
THE CONCEITED LAZY FOOL
What could be worse than a fool who is also lazy? The following text makes a pitch at describing a conceited lazy fool!
The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.Proverbs 26:16
The following scenario may be constructed, in order to understand the text more easily.
1. Put a question to a group of people
a) Seven of them would be able to give a sensible answer to the question put forward.
b) However, the conceited lazy fool will not answer sensibly.
2. How would “the lazy man” answer the question?
a) He takes pride in his wisdom (even if he is wrong and the group of seven attempts to correct him).
b) With typical conceit and foolishness, he holds his position, even if it is dead wrong!
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie