Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
In my readings this morning I ran across a very relevant Proverb. The Bible describes a slothful man with a very unusual description.
The principle of this proverb is that the lazy man won’t leave his house for fear of lions.
I imagine him say these statements.
“I can’t go to work; lions might kill me.”
“I can’t go to church; lions might attack me in the pew”
“I better stay hidden within the confines of my home because lions are real, and they have sharp teeth, strong jaws and big claws.”
Why does the Bible say that these are the words of a slothful man? Lions are real and they can be very dangerous, right? Isn’t this fellow just being cautious? Some might even say that he isn’t slothful but smart to avoid the risk.
There are two possibilities concerning the slothful man’s fear of these felines.
1. His Fear Is False
What if his fear is unwarranted? What if it isn’t as bad as he thought? Could it be that the possibility of him being attacked by lions is not as likely as he thinks?
In the Psalms, we learn a little about the sleep schedule of lions.
Psalm 104:22–23 22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, And lay them down in their dens. 23Man goeth forth unto his work And to his labour until the evening.
Apparently, the average lion works third shift. According to the psalmist when humans are going to work those giant cats are actually laying down in their dens for big cat naps.
Maybe this man is just making excuses. Perhaps he is just paralyzed by fear of things that have little possibility. If either is true then no wonder the Scripture calls him slothful.
There is a second possibility.
2. His Fear Is Fact
Maybe there is a lion lurking in the streets looking for someone to devour. Who knows, this fella may even be watching the lion licking his lips from his kitchen window.
If this is true, then why would the Word call him slothful?
If there is a lion lurking, if a ferocious feline is really walking to and fro seeking someone to devour then shouldn’t something be done to stop him?
The lazy man cares only for himself. He complains about the problem but never addresses it. The slothful's only concern is for self.
This is what I know, right now in my town there is a lion in the street. He is violent, dangerous and destructive. The Bible describes him this way,
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Is it dangerous to fight him? Yes, there is no question, but letting him destroy lives is not a better option. The lazy man hides but the courageous cares too much for others to not join the cause for right. Don't forget, our Lord joins us in the cause and he has delivered his servants from the lion's den in the past, he can do it again!
Fight or flight, which do you choose?