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Proverbs 6 Lazy Content

Wednesday 08/06/25

Thru the Bible: Proverbs 6

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The Proverbial sluggard… are you Lazy or Content?

Proverb 6:1-35,

This chapter offers some clear instruction which is worthy of all acceptance to those who would become surety for another. Many people have been brought to the brink of ruin financially or socially by speaking up for another person, becoming a co-signer on a loan or attesting to their good character before a board or place of employment.

These initial words provide counsel in a pretty straight forward fashion that in MOST cases this is NOT a wise idea.

“(1) My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor,

if you have become a guarantor for a stranger, (2)

if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken,”

Words are of course important. I can’t help but notice here that the two examples are pledge for a neighbor and guarantor for a stranger.

Now the word “neighbor” actually has a much broader meaning than we usually take it today. It does not mean a person who lives next door or on your block, but someone with whom you are brought into contact with, or live or work with, because of life’s circumstances.

Since the construction of this verse is parallelism this neighbor is also the stranger mentioned next giving greater understanding of who Solomon is referencing.

The “stranger” (זָר, zar) can refer to a stranger who is outside the family, even a non-Israelite foreigner, or an unauthorized or prohibited person. The person is either not well known or off-limits and represents a high financial risk and/or an undesirable association.

In relation to the words “pledge” and “guarantor”, it is interesting how often verses which are written in Hebrew parallelism create a type of word parallelism in English. Here the word “guarantor” means something more akin to “pledge” than the word “pledge” does and the word “pledge” means something more like being a “guarantor” than the word “guarantor” does.

Now that you are thoroughly confused by what amuses me in translating Hebrew poetry into English let me define these words…

The word “pledge” means to put up some kind of financial security for someone else, that is, to underwrite another’s debts.
The word “guarantor” means to strike hands in a pledge – the guarantee of that pledge being the handshake so to speak.

So the pledge in view here was foolish because the debtor was someone who was not well known to the one providing surety for the debt. So that the one who pledged security for this one was simply gullible and unwise.

This was not just a handshake, but also a type of verbal pledge. The idea is that you had given your word to pay a debt for another if they defaulted on the loan.

So that brings some specific Old Covenant Laws into play. Notice I said “Covenant” not “Testament”. Let me remind you of what the law had to say about vows we make with our mouth.

In Numbers 30 we are given laws regarding vows or pledges and they differ by age and gender.

Men and Vows

Num. 30:1-2, HCSB “(1) Moses told the leaders of the Israelite tribes, “This is what the LORD has commanded:

(2) When a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.”

Women and Vows

Num. 30:3-16, HCSB “(3) When a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the LORD or puts herself under an obligation, (4) and her father hears about her vow or the obligation she put herself under, and he says nothing to her, all her vows and every obligation she put herself under are binding. (5) BUT if her father prohibits her on the day he hears about it, none of her vows and none of the obligations she put herself under are binding. The LORD will absolve her because her father has prohibited her.

(6) “If a woman marries while her vows or the rash commitment she herself made are binding, (7) and her husband hears about it and says nothing to her when he finds out, her vows are binding, and the obligations she put herself under are binding. (8) But if her husband prohibits her when he hears about it, he will cancel her vow that is binding or the rash commitment she herself made, and the LORD will forgive her.

(9) “Any vow a widow or divorcée put herself under is binding on her.

(10) “If a woman in her husband’s house has made a vow or put herself under an obligation with an oath, (11) and her husband hears about it, says nothing to her, and does not prohibit her, all her vows are binding, and every obligation she put herself under is binding. (12) But if her husband cancels them on the day he hears about it, nothing that came from her lips, whether her vows or her obligation, is binding. Her husband has canceled them, and the LORD will absolve her.

(13) Her husband may confirm or cancel any vow or any sworn obligation to deny herself. (14) If her husband says nothing at all to her from day to day, he confirms all her vows and obligations, which are binding. He has confirmed them because he said nothing to her when he heard about them. (15) But if he cancels them after he hears about them, he will be responsible for her commitment.”

(16) These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the relationship between a man and his wife, or between a father and his daughter in his house during her youth.”

Were vows completely unforgivable? Meaning were there ever times when a vow or oath might be forgiven a man or woman by God directly, so that they do not have to fulfill it? Well, yes if when you spoke it it was a rash and not well considered decision.

Let’s look at Leviticus 5:4-13,

“(4) Or if someone swears rashly to do what is good or evil–concerning anything a person may speak rashly [or thoughtlessly] in an oath–without being aware of it, but later recognizes it, he incurs guilt in such an instance. (5) If someone incurs guilt in one of these cases, he is to:

confess how he has sinned, (6) and

he must bring his penalty for guilt to the LORD for his sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering.

So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin.”

The wording is different across translations and it can be a little confusing if you are really paying attention to the implications. The Holman translation says that once he realizes it, “he incurs guilt” while the NET says that when he later comes to realize it “AND is guilty”.

So strictly speaking, the Holman implies that the person is not guilty of sin until they realise it. The NET places the realization of the sin and the guilt as two separate things “comes to realize it AND is guilty”. Neither of which are well presented. The idea is not whether the person truly is guilty or not. If the person did not know something was contrary to the law WHEN they did it, it would still be wrong, but it would not be sin. Sin REQUIRES a previous knowledge of the wrongfulness of something and doing it anyway. The idea here is more about the realization that they broke a law they knew, but were so “thoughtless” and “rash” that they acted without thinking. Thus making the real sin here, one of not being mindful of and acknowledging the Lord in all his ways.

This is NOT like King David who did what he did regarding Bathsheba and Uriah. While no doubt it was an act of passion, he had plenty of time to think about it and chose the evil over the good. Furthermore, David hardened his heart until Nathan the prophet came to him and trapped David by the judgment of his own mouth. THEN David repented. So this is NOT the precise same thing! David DID come to himself and return to his senses and so felt the guilt afresh, but David’s own account of these events are found in Psalm 32 where he said,

“(3) When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. (4) For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah

(5) Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said,

“I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You took away the GUILT of my sin. Selah”

So this situation in Leviticus of a vow rashly spoken was a provision from God for us as well as an instruction to us. God knows we sometimes act or react thoughtlessly out of passion and so He has compassion towards our weakness. In so doing He also teaches us to be careful and thoughtful before we speak. To own our hearts with patience and speak clearly and deliberately so that we may be more like Him!

Proverbs 20:25, “It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.”

Such would be very good advice which is in keeping with Solomon’s instruction about being surety for a stranger.

Proverbs 6…

“(3) THEN, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power:

go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.

(4) Permit no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

(5) Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.”

Now the only reason I can think of that a person would do something so stupid is through the fear of man.

If someone is SO desirous of another’s approval or acceptance, or if they want to appear generous or even wealthy in another person’s eye, they might be drawn into such a snare as this. Another reason might be intimidation or threat. If for some reason the one offering surety was intimidated by the one needing help, they might cave, but other than these two reasons it is very hard to imagine anyone falling for this.

However, this advice also wisely extends to people you know as well. In fact, it is BECAUSE you know then that you would be ill advised to offer guarantee or backing for them financially or in a business deal.

I remember a time when Teri and I (mostly me) did this for a friend and it wound up hurting us financially. In the end, it also generated bad feelings between us which took years to dissipate.

I knew this counsel in Proverbs but assumed that since it was a friend who had a job and who had no parent who could co-sign for him, it was the right thing to do. Even though he had not shown very much financial responsibility up to this point, surely the fact that my name would now be on the line – not to mention my wife’s name – he would be ultra diligent to make his payments on time and not let anything adversely affect our good name and credit.

Of course what happened was the complete opposite.

He presumed upon our tolerance and took risks which placed us in the crosshairs of the lender.

When I had to confront him about it, he attempted to make me feel like the bad guy for reminding him and pressing him regarding it. This was made all the worse by the fact that he would somehow find the money to go out to eat, go on mini-vacations and even purchase things which were not necessary or really within his means. All the while we were being hounded due to his negligence and selfish indulgence.

To make matters worse, we didn’t even get to do the things he would not deny himself, making our situation even more bitter! We were still driving the same old beat up car which rained inside and had no a/c, we almost never even got to go to a fast food drive through, much less a nice restaurant and we certainly never went on vacation. So being civil was not easy. We loved him, but you reach a point where you realize that they DON’T realize what they are doing and so you just pray and commit them and the debt to God to deliver you.

Needless to say we never did that again!

So let me just say, this is sage advice which should ALWAYS be followed!

Now at this point in the chapter, the advice seems to shift to those who might be the one seeking a friend to be surety for them.

“(6) Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! (7) It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, (8) yet it would prepare its food in the summer; it gathered at the harvest what it will eat.”

“(9) How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep? (10) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, (11) and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.”

Now from all I was able to gather regarding the sluggard, they have some qualities nearly anyone can identify with in certain situations, which makes one wonder if they are the intended audience of these words.

These people –

Don’t want to work
They are lazy
They are unmotivated – (though Proverbs 13:4 says such people have desires, they remain unrealized so he is evidently different from a person who is just indifferent).
They sleep too much
They make excuses for their laziness
They often blame their lack of provision on others or unfair circumstances.
They are wise in their own eyes

Not a very attractive list, but I think that if we are honest, there are ways and arenas in all of our lives in which any one of these might crop up and apply to us in at least a limited fashion and yet still, you would fit the profile of someone who is biblically a sluggard.

These attributes are set forth as all encompassing in their lives. They aren’t too lazy just to work – one Proverb says, they are so lazy that they will put their hand in a bowl of food and be too lazy to lift it back up to their mouths again to eat.

Now THAT is a lazy sluggard!

If you…

…are a willing and ready worker, but are not motivated towards home projects, maintenance or upkeep. Though this is not good, it is strictly not the same as the sluggard.
…plan for and accomplish your work (for provision) even if you do not like what you are doing, this does not make you a sluggard.
…are not motivated to increase in wealth. Meaning you don’t strive for that next promotion or train for another position. You are simply satisfied where you are and would rather not put out the extra effort to advance beyond what you need for your needs and upkeep. This is not being a sluggard.
…are simply slow in your tasks and easily overwhelmed but keep pressing on, even if it takes you longer than others. This is not the same as being a sluggard.
…find excuses to not finish projects, or avoid important yet, non- critical tasks DUE TO feeling intimidated by a task you’ve never done or one in which you are inexperienced, this is not being a sluggard.

In brief, if you don’t make excuses for not working, but make yourself engage and get your necessary labor done for which you and your family rely in order to live – you are not a sluggard.

The overarching here when taken from all the Bible says about the lazy and the sluggard is one of a person who not only doesn’t want to work – they WONT work.

They find excuses, they live for laziness and slothfulness, they desire to have, but are unwilling to make provision for their desires or needs and they feel justified in these actions – that person is a sluggard.

I want to speak a little further about one of these things.

The person who is not upwardly mobile today is often looked down upon and those looking down upon them can be fellow Christians. Obviously these sort of “Christians” who judge them thus, are ones who ARE upwardly mobile and they consider it slothful or just lacking ambition if you don’t pursue advancement in the work place and in financial status. Therefore the person who remains fulfilled in something tantamount to a “blue collar” job – just lacks ambition and is a lazy person who just gets by with the bare minimum in the eys of those who pursue wealth.

Try as I might, I can find no scripture that supports this view, but MANY which speak against those who pursue wealth.

Many of those satisfied in “blue collar” jobs do so because it isn’t overly demanding in terms of responsibility or extra hours and they are able to make due with the money this supplies – this is not a bad thing. In fact, scripturally speaking it might be commendable if it comes from a desire to not overwork to become rich or compete with the social status of others.

We are in fact commanded to NOT overwork in order to become rich.

Later in Proverbs 23:4 we are told,

“Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.”

Furthermore, we are also commanded to be satisfied with such things as we have and possessing food and clothing we should be content.

1 Timothy 6:6-10, “(6) Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. (7) For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. (8) But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. (9) Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.”

Hebrews 13:5-6, “(5) Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you MUST BE content with what you have, for He has said,

“I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”

(6) So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?”

Paul in speaking to the Philippians about personal contentment and need said:

Philippians 4:10-13,

“(10) I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

(11) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

(12) I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

(13) I am able to do all things through the One Who strengthens me.”

And

In Acts 20:33-35 Paul told the pastors in Ephesus,

“(33) I have desired no one’s silver or gold or clothing.

(34) You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my NEEDS and the NEEDS of those who were with me.

(35) By all these things, I HAVE SHOWN YOU that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that He Himself said,

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

John the Baptist counseled Tax collectors and Roman soldiers in Luke 3:12-14 saying,

“(12) Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him,

“Teacher, what should we do?”

(13) He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.”

(14) Then some soldiers also asked him,

“And as for us – what should we do?”

He told them,

“Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”

So it seems that the Bible presents a view which is in stark opposition to the counsel of our age.

The scriptures warn against greed and materialism.

Many in the church today excuse materialism and selfish pursuits by misquoting God’s word regarding desires and dreams.

Most people in the church are familiar with this statement in scripture –

“Where there is no vision the people perish” which people have taken to mean, that if you do not have some dream to aspire to, your life will amount to nothing.

They substitute the word “vision” for “dream” or aspiration in life.

Of course this is only the first part of the verse which ends with a colon leading into the second part which goes on to say,

“but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Wow, what a difference!

In fact if read in the Holman and NET would not allow even for that misunderstanding.

Holman – “Without revelation people run wild, but one who keeps the law will be happy.”
NET – “When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!”

I’ve actually had people use Joseph as an example of pursuing one’s dreams. I look at them quizzically and ask, “Are you sure you’ve read that story?”

If you remember Joseph was not pursuing a career path which he personally desired, but rather was thrust into a path God had laid out for him which began in slavery and ended as second in command of greater Egypt and the path there was anything but glamorous!

Sitting there in the camp of his family in Hebron, Joseph probably aspired to little more than being his father’s favorite and eventually working alongside his brothers as herdsmen in the fields. He certainly never dreamt of being Pharaoh’s right hand man. Consider the imagery of his dreams – it was piles of hay and the moon and stars. While the second had some symbolic implications towards royalty, I doubt very much if Joseph saw himself this way. He simply had a dream and in youthful excitement blabbed it to his brothers. Probably as a means of taunting them.

In short, using Joseph as a scriptural example of pursuing selfish ambition is a fool’s errand and a wild misappropriation of scripture!

The only goals or dreams scripture seems to acknowledge the importance of pursuing are those which are immediately aligned with God’s will and the advancement of His kingdom.

Psalm 37:4:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The word “delight” means to be feminine, soft and pliable in God’s hands.

This reveals both a motive and underlying direction in the desires God will grant.

If the promise BEGINS with “be pliable in God’s hands” and ends with “He will give you the desires of your heart” does it not suggest that this promise is more about shaping your heart to be in compliance with God’s will than it is about just loving God and which will result in God caving in to your desires and make them a reality.

Let me just say, God is not a celestial pushover, He is not our personal genie in a bottle and He is not our sugardaddy! NOTHING in these words should lead us to believe such nonsense!

Even the very next words imply God’s will being the thing we are pursuing –

“Commit your way unto the Lord; TRUST also in Him; and He will bring it to pass.”

Are we to believe we are to take our selfish desires and commit the advancement of them to God in trust and He is promising that He will bring our dreams to pass?

Pretty sure if you believe that I have some prime real estate I’d love to sell you in the Everglades that could be described as being “right on the water”.

Scripture also offers this warning against the pursuit of wealth, greed and materialism:

In Matthew 6:24, we are told by no less than Jesus and His authority that…

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Other passages include…

Proverbs 13:4,

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied,”

Given all we know about wealth, especially under the New Covenant, God gives both “bread for food and seed for sowing”. Paul applies this to giving to the poor in 2 Corinthians 9. God supplies our NEEDS and will also supply enough extra to give to others.

Then in Proverbs 12 we have several statements about wealth and the pursuit of dreams and materialism…

Proverbs 12:9, “Better is a person of humble standing who works for himself, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.”

Proverbs 12:11, “The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.”

Proverbs 12:27, “A lazy man doesn’t roast his game, but to a diligent man, his wealth is precious.”

Meaning a lazy person will often also be wasteful OR he will spend the little energy he has to obtain something but will be too lazy to actually use it. Whereas the diligent, what they work hard for is not wasted, because they recognize its value.

What the scriptures say about balancing contentment with diligence:

The Bible does not advocate for laziness or apathy. It encourages hard work, responsible living, and pursuing goals that are aligned with God’s will. However, it also emphasizes the importance of contentment with what we have and not being consumed by a relentless pursuit of more.

This balance is achieved by aligning our desires with God’s will, trusting in His provision, and finding joy in the present while working towards the future.

In essence, the Bible encourages a life of purpose and diligent effort, but it also cautions against greed, materialism and selfish ambition by emphasizing the importance of contentment and a focus on God’s will

Now continuing on in Proverbs 6, Solomon next seems to change his targeted audience for someone who has far less hope than the sluggard.

For while a lazy man might be wanting for some good and godly qualities of character, he is still encouraged to learn and change. This makes him a far cry from the fellow we read about in the next verses.

This section addresses the worthless and wicked person.

The actual Hebrew is adam belial.

Now belial in Hebrew is NOT used as a proper name as it is in the Greek New Testament in 2 Corinthians 6:15 where it is used as a name for the devil.

The term is applied in the Old Testament Hebrew to:

the hard-hearted as in Deut. 15:9 & 1 Sam. 30:22
to perjurers as in 1 Kings 21:13 & Proverbs 19:28
and to those promoting rebellion against an authority as in 2 Sam. 20:1 & 2 Chron. 13:7.

He says,

“(12) A worthless and wicked person walks around saying perverse things; (13) he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers; (14) he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.”

“(15) Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.”

These are the ungodly who, in Peter’s words, despise authority and will ultimately be destroyed. – 2 Peter 2:9-14.

Now Solomon uses a poetic device I mentioned during our introduction to Proverbs a month ago. It is called Synthetic Parallelism. This is where the second line of a phrase expands upon or completes the idea of the first.

You can easily identify it here both in the initial and opening statement as well as in the subsequent development of the things listed in order.

There are 6 things the Lord hates, 7 which are an abomination to Him.

This is scary ground!

The word “hate” is literally an antonym for the word love.

The word “abomination” is usually used in context with the Law. Though in its broader context it just means anything that is offensive, it is specifically used regarding…

Unclean food
Idolatry
Child sacrifice
Pagan religions
Homosexuality

Evidently this list is offered in an escalating fashion.

Now whether this means that each one in sequence is hated to a greater degree or just that each one compounds the weight of the things collectively listed before it – I do not know.

Let’s just say that God’s hatred of them offers sufficient reason to distance yourself from these things…

“(16) There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven things that are an abomination to Him: (17)

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue, and

hands that shed innocent blood, (18)

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that are swift to run to evil, (19)

a false witness who pours out lies, and

a person who spreads discord among family members.”

Now Solomon returns to his initial and often recited familial and parental advice…

“(20) My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

(21) Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.

(22) When you walk about, they will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

when you wake up, they will talk to you.

“(23) For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life, (24) by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.”

Now while the default and often offered token example is that of a “loose woman” and her effect on a young man, the truths are not intended to be limited to that alone.

These words of wisdom are good for redirecting your paths away from ANYTHING which is harmful, worthless or ungodly.

“(25) Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes; (26) for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.”

“(27) Can a man hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes?

(28) Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

(29) So it is with the one who sleeps with his neighbor’s wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment.”

“(30) People do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry. (31) Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.”

“(32) A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks sense, whoever does it destroys his own life.

(33) He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away; (34) for jealousy kindles a husband’s rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.

(35) He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation.”

I believe this is a great place to speak to the tremendous value of a woman.

Their value goes far beyond their natural beauty and physical desirability to men. However, these more obvious and external realities only highlight her true value.

She is the helpmate of the man.
She is his companion and friend.
She is his confidant and comrade.
She is the one who lifts up, encourages and aids him in remaining focused upon his calling.
She is the one he turns to for comfort and support.
She is the one who believes in him and is therefore a builder and fortifier of his own confidence.
She is also his glory. Meaning she is the beauty that graces him and the bright flame that casts her light upon him to make him the center of attention and the focus of the impact and authority of their home.
So for another man to seduce her and go into her, is a betrayal of soul that cuts deeper than any other thing in all his life.

There is no way to recover from such a betrayal.

Forgiveness is of course possible and in fact should be offered if only committed once in an act of passion. But the sting can easily last a lifetime and it may be just shy of impossible to forgive the other man.

These are deep waters and yet, they pale in comparison to the things they represent which are our relationship with God!

Blessings!

Tri