065. "Go to the Ant, Thou Sluggard"
"Go to the Ant, Thou Sluggard"
Laziness appears to have been a very prevalent vice in these countries from days of old. Solomon appears to have more to say about this subject than any other. His rebuke of the sluggard drawn from the habits of the ant is very suggestive. Solomon so intensely disliked laziness, that he expressed his dislike of it in many ways. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting." The most good-for-nothing creature may be roused by the excitement of the hunt, but is too indolent to roast the game afterwards. "The soul of the sluggard desireth, but hath nothing." He coveteth greedily all day, but his hands refuse to labour.
"He will not plow by reason of the cold," is true today. Plowing and sowing cannot be carried on until the winter rains commence, therefore he neglects to sow his fields.
We have known farmers go out to sow and plow, but the rain and cold proved to be more than they cared for, so they retreat into their mud huts, kindle a fire, and doze away the time by the side of it. Nor can you rouse him, - as Solomon said, "A little more sleep, a little more folding of the hands."
It is said that these lazy men will not turn over on their pillow, even if muddy water is leaking from the roof into their eyes.
Proverbs 24:1-34, is a perfect description of the poor fellaheen today. "I went by the field of the slothful, - and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down." And the owners are too indolent to do anything about it.
Solomon surely knew the peasants of his day - and of these days too. The peasant men desire to do nothing but smoke, sleep and gossip. The women do the work and carry the burdens, mostly.
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard" - and learn her secrets of life.