Pro 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by
the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Pro 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Pro 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Pro 24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Pro 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Pro 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Pro 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Pro 24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Pro 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
My parents had retired and moved from southern California, 600
miles north to a ten acre ranch. They had come from a dairy farm in Arkansas to
California during the depression. My father had worked hard at many jobs, was a
carpenter and skilled laborer. Now it was time to retire, but not from work.
They made a big garden, had fruit trees, raised cattle, a pig, chickens, ducks
and geese. They shared from their abundance with my family. They kept the ranch
in great shape.
Old age came to where they were no longer able to grow a
garden. They could no longer tend to farm animals. There was a handyman that
would come to help them do small fix it jobs. They gave him meat and produce for
compensation. He was more useful to them than their distant sons.They were just
far enough away from us that we could only visit on weekends. My mother was
always given to hospitality, offering coffee, tea, cookies, pie and cake. They were
very special. Towards the end of their life she would forget to offer coffee,
but on the day she died there was a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough in the
refrigerator. Mom died at 86, having worked hard along side of dad and giving
care to his 200 lb frame, caring for him and feeding him until the end of her
life. Pop had dementia, he no longer knew his family. and lived to the age of
89. They both worked hard all of their lives and had received a blessed life.
They were in no way slothful, but sometimes people get to where they cannot keep
up their property, they were no longer able.
There are other people who have never worked never taken care
of anything. I feel sorry for these. What of spiritual applications to these
verses? Have we neglected the things of God? Do we pray and read the Bible. Do
we withdraw from fellowship with the family of God? Have we started something
and walked away from it? Do we have understanding? If so, we can get things as
they should be, back in order. Is our spiritual life" grown over with thorns, and nettles had
covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken
down."
As the parable of the sower of the seed, have we grown only to
allow weeds and thorns, the cares of this life to choke out our faith and service to God?
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns
is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness
of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Keep going, serving and following Jesus until we are with him
forever.
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