In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that seem trivial, but have a lasting impact. Putting off work, taking on responsibilities without careful consideration, or letting lazy habits grow slowly. All of which are often taken for granted. However, it is from these small habits that the direction of life is often shaped, either towards wholeness or lack thereof.
Proverbs 6:1-19 contains a very practical series of wisdom teacher's advice. Unlike the previous sections, this passage does not explicitly interpret wisdom theologically, but rather directly addresses the realities of everyday life. The teaching is diverse: a warning to be careful to be an insurer of others (vv. 1-5), a stern admonition against laziness (vv. 6-11), a description of the behavior of troublemakers (v. 12 & 15), and a warning about the six things that God hates (v. 16 & 19). The entire exhortation reflects the world of wisdom education during the Kingdom, which aimed to concretely shape the disciples' life attitudes.
The prominent focus in this passage is the issue of laziness. In the Book of Proverbs, poverty is understood through two perspectives. There is poverty born out of oppression, which demands deliverance from the powerful, and there is poverty caused by negligence and laziness. Proverbs 6 speaks of the latter type. Poverty is not viewed negatively in terms of human dignity before God, as both the poor and the rich are His creation. However, an attitude of laziness that leads to deprivation cannot be tolerated. For this reason, the wisdom teacher invites students to learn from a simple creature: the ant. “O sluggard, go to the ant, observe its behavior and become wise ” (v. 6). The ant is portrayed as a creature that is able to discipline itself without a leader, regulator or ruler. It works regularly, diligently and systematically, making use of summer and harvest time to ensure sufficiency. In this image, craft is not just about working hard, but about sensitivity to time and responsibility for life.
Friends of the Bible, the wisdom that Proverbs 6 offers shapes an attitude of life that is conscious of consequences. Craftsmanship leads to sufficiency, while laziness paves the way for lack that comes slowly but surely. In the midst of a culture of procrastination and instant gratification, this advice invites us to return to managing our time and responsibilities wisely. True wisdom is not only understood, but lived. Wisdom helps shape an attitude of life that is diligent, responsible, and sensitive to the season of life we are in.
