July 6

Jul 6 - Today from Proverbs 6 we look at verses 10 & 11

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

I would like you to ponder a question for a few moments. When are you likely to be accosted by a bandit or an armed man?
Have you thought about it? There really isn't a good answer, is there? There may be times that are more likely than others (like walking across a dark parking lot, or working the graveyard shift at a convenience store), but the thing with thieves, robbers and muggers is that they can and do ply their trade at any time of the day and in any circumstance - including the security of your own home.
This proverb isn't about muggers - it's about failing to be vigilant. If I asked the question "When are you most likely not to be accosted by a bandit?", you could rightly answer "When I am being vigilant - aware of what is going on around me." The proverb initially has to do with earning a living and keeping accounts short. In the context of the previous four verses, we see that the author/teacher is referring to laziness. Those who choose to goof off and do non-productive activities when there are productive opportunities at hand will suddenly find themselves accosted by poverty. The bills come due. The credit cards must be paid. "Gee, I thought I would have time to get those things in order. I can't believe how time slipped up on me." The fun-loving adventurer wasn't being vigilant, and now it's time to pay up, or face the consequences.
The principle of the proverb can easily have spiritual application. There is a condition known as poverty of the soul. It comes about in the same manner - by choosing non-productive activities and ignoring the activities that enrich one's soul. Non-productive activities are things like watching TV, reading novels, playing computer games, talking on the phone - whatever your particular amusement may happen to be. These are not necessarily wrong or evil, it's just that they consume productive time. Productive activities for the soul are things like reading and meditating the Bible, time in prayer, gathering for worship, attending a Bible study, and giving of your time to elevate the quality of life for others. You will discover that people who invest their 'spare time' in these activities have a richness of soul. They are vigilant with their time, and are vigilant regarding the spiritual atmosphere around them. They make their world a better place because their world extends far beyond their personal amusement.
Everyone needs some time for amusement. It's just that amusement is not to be the priority of our discretionary time. That's not how God created us. The evidence of that fact often comes too late - it's like walking down the sidewalk enjoying yourself and suddenly a mugger comes out of the shadows and pokes a gun in your ribs. "How could this happen to me!?!" Unexpected. It shouldn't have happened. Numbness of mind. Depression. . . Poverty of soul.
I would like to finish with a profound statement. Larry King was interviewing the late Christopher Reeves on TV, who was paralyzed from the neck down as a result of a horseback riding accident. Larry asked Mr. Reeves if he ever got really depressed with his situation. He responded honestly, "Of course. I am human. I can really get to feeling sorry for myself." Then Larry asked Mr. Reeves what he did to pull himself out and get back up. He replied, "I look for someone to help. It's the best cure in the world." Richness of soul.
Wisdom is vigilant with its time, and uses discretionary time to enrich both themselves, and those around them.