Proverbs 26:13-16 – The self-destructive lifestyle of a sluggard

In Proverbs 24:30-34, we saw the inevitable consequences of laziness. Solomon now returns to the subject again in Proverbs 26:13-16. In the previous 12 verses of Proverbs 26, he gave us some pointers on how to handle a fool. In these four verses, he gives us pointers on how to recognize a sluggard. There are essentially four clear signs we will see in a sluggard.

Firstly, he is full of excuses. This can be seen in verse 13. A sluggard will thoughtlessly give a silly excuse just to stay away from work. He is like one who says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion in the open square!” What this is suggesting is that a sluggard will give the silliest of excuse to stay in door. Lions are usually found in the forest and not roaming in the city and square. Just to away stay from work and in-door, a sluggard will make that kind of excuse, no matter how farfetched it may seem to be. When ask to go and work, a sluggard will give one thousand and one reasons why it is dangerous to go into the assignment.

Secondly, a sluggard loves sleep more than work. This is seen in verse 14. He would rather turn and toss in bed like a door swinging loosely on hinges, than going to work. The loosely swinging door is to illustrate purposeless motions. That’s what a sluggard will do. He will engage in motions that lead him nowhere rather than work that will get him somewhere. He would rather turn from side to side in bed than to leave it for some useful works. When a door moves it will make creaking sounds. When work is demanded of a sluggard, like the creaking door he will moan and groan.

Thirdly, in verse 15, the sluggard will not even make the smallest move to meet his own basic needs. When he gets out of bed and breakfast is prepared for him, he will not even move a hand to eat what is served. He is too lazy even to feed himself by bringing the food to his mouth. Although this is a hyperbole, it proves a point. A lazy bum is too slothful even to take care of his basic necessities in life.  

Fourthly, in verse 16, we can see that a slothful person is not only arrogant but also highly opinionated. He will close his mind to what others are suggesting. All he can see is himself and his own thinking. So arrogant and highly opinionated is he that he would not even listen to wise and discreet answers from others. The “seven men who can give discreet answers” is to say that no amount of perfect answers will ever be adequate to move him to work. Not only should we shun the attitude of a sluggard, but we must show God’s handiwork in our life by being diligent.