Proverbs 20

PROVERBS 20


"The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing."
(vs 4)

Noah Webster translates ~

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
[therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing."
(Websters Bible)

Just meditating on, and praying about this one verse, I can feel a sermon building up in me! I’m thinking we may have to wait to cover any other verses from this Proverb ’til later.


Jesus offered this warning to those who would follow Him -
"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62

Several of our Lord’s parables addressed those who did not continue to labor unto their calling, those who made excuses for not following and obeying Him wholeheartedly (Matt 25:24-30, Luke 13:22-30)

May we not cease from cultivating the seed that has been planted in us. When the excitement of new birth (salvation) of the Spring, the fire (revival) of Summer, and the rain (Holy Spirit) of Autumn, have given way to a cold season of testing and refining (Winter), may we not look back to that which we have been delivered from. May we press on, and say, as the Apostle Paul -

"I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Phil 3:8-14


Paul never became lazy in his walk, he never took God for granted. The winter seasons of suffering and persecution he looked upon as opportunity to know Christ more intimately, his eyes ever looking ahead to the Harvest. The Word exhorts us to keep our hand to the plow, to continually press in, to fight the good fight, to keep our lamps trimmed & burning. When that final Harvest comes, will the Lord find that we have been steadfastly plowing, sowing, reaping even now, that which brings Eternal Life. (John 4:35-38) When comes our time to stand before God, may we possess as much of Christ as He has given us opportunity to possess.

"Whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." - Matt 13:12


Looking at one last illustration of this Kingdom principle that came to mind; that of the wise and foolish virgins.

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ’Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ’Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ’No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ’Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ’Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." - Matt 25:1-13

The Lord had returned. Some had been diligent, others had not been. Dear saints, when it seems as though the Bridegroom is delaying His coming, may we not assume the harvest is still away off (John 4:35), may we not turn back, doubting (2 Pet 3:4). Let us be alert; watching, plowing, pressing in, always filling our lamps, ever letting our light shine, that we may be prepared for His coming (at the appointed time, or to us as individuals even now). May we not be found lacking at the Harvest (Again, in that Day, or when the Lord calls us to minister His Life to others)

God bless you, and grant us all understanding and discernment concerning His Word, His Truth. Amen.

Michael


Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
(vs 5)