The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
Proverbs 22:13
It is a short Proverb but there are many ways it addresses us as human beings. Here are ten things we can observe from this Proverb:
1. There is such a thing as a sluggard. The proverb suggests there are different categories of people.
2. The proverbs present types of people. The proverbs invite us to become certain types of people while it warns us from becoming other types of people. We are being warned not to be like the sluggard.
3. There is a particular way the sluggard deals with life.
4. The proverbs teaches us how the sluggard deals with life and assumes that it is not a godly way to approach life.
5. The sluggard is selfish. "'I' will be killed in the streets." Clearly, the sluggard is concerned with only his welfare and seems to be his driving motivation.
6. The sluggard is skilled at deceiving himself. The lion outside was probably a reasonable fear within his context. Thus, if it were true that there were a lion no one would fault him for staying inside. While the Proverb points to the the way people are tempted to hide behind common fears that most people would relate to the general tone suggests there isn't indeed a lion outside, just that he has convinced himself there is.
7. The sluggard deceives himself for a purpose: to get out of work. This isn't explicit, but it is clearly insinuated that the sluggard makes an excuse to relieve himself of unwanted responsibilities.
8. The sluggard story justifies why he is avoiding the work which will make him feel better about himself. Going back to an earlier point, if there were truly a lion he would be justified for his action, even commended. So long as there is a lion outside not only does he assuage his guilt but he will find support for his decision.
9. The sluggard relies too much on his own perceptions rather than trusting in God. The sluggard refuses to see life through the eyes of faith but through his own perceptions. No doubt, life is difficult and filled with threats. Yet, God provides his grace in many ways for anyone to rely upon.
10. A sluggard is in rebellion to God by being a sluggard. The Proverb diagnoses the underlying thoughts of the sluggard and suggests that being a sluggard is a way of acting in foolishness. Foolishness in Proverbs is the act of living in autonomy from God. When the sluggard relies on his own self-deceived perceptions without regard to God's perspective he acts in folly and rebellion to God. This is the opposite of wisdom that is fueled by faith.
So is there really a lion outside in the streets? No, and yes. I say no to the extent this Proverbs says no. Certainly, there are times when there are real dangers in the world that need to be avoided. This is wise. It also isn't the situation this Proverb addresses. This Proverb isn't addressing the situation where there is indeed a lion, but the time there isn't and the lazy person has selfishly and rebelliously deceived themselves into thinking there is.
However, there is a lion outside. Perhaps the Proverbs doesn't exactly have this in mind but since we read the Proverbs from the perspective of Jesus having raised from the dead we know him to be the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Thus, for believers who know Christ as Savior and trust him for the forgiveness of sins, there is no lion to cause you harm but one who put himself in harms way for your good. Indeed there is a lion outside and he is Jesus. This lion isn't there to kill you in the streets, instead he was killed on the cross and rose again three days later to secure your redemption. This isn't a lion that will tear you to pieces, it is a lion who was torn to pieces to prove that if God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? The gospel offers believers the deepest conviction and solution to laziness. Laziness ultimately offends the gospel and laziness is ultimately solved by the gospel. If you struggle with the mentality of the lazy person you must consider Christ, the lion who isn't against you but for you, the lion who died in your place for all of your lies and deception, for all the ways your laziness rejects God's power and promise in order that you can live unto God without fear, boldly and for his glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin
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