Proverbs 20:4 - Meaning and Application

Here you see the evil of sloth and the love of ease. It keeps people from the most necessary work, from plowing and sowing when the season comes. The lazy person has land to work and strength to do it. He can plow, but he will not. He finds some excuse to put it off, but the real reason is that it feels too cold.

The plowing season is not in the depths of winter, but near its edge, when he thinks it is too cold to be outside. Those are shamefully lazy who cannot bear so little effort as plowing, or so little discomfort as a cold wind, when their work calls for it. Many people are just as careless about the things of their souls. A small hardship frightens them away from the most important duty. But good soldiers must be ready to endure hardship.

This laziness also takes away the support they most need. Those who will not plow in seedtime cannot expect to reap in harvest. So they must beg for bread with surprise and shame, while the diligent bring home their sheaves with joy. Anyone who will not accept the labor of plowing must accept the shame of begging. They will beg at harvest and still have nothing, even when there is plenty all around.

It may be right to show charity to sluggards, but a person may also justly refuse them help. They deserve to be left to the result of their own laziness. Those who would not store oil in their lamps begged when the bridegroom came, and they were refused.