Proverbs 21:25-27 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 21:25-27, which read,

v.25 - The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work.

A desire to not work is what the sluggard is going for.  The Bible is so against this.  The Bible wants our hands and our hearts active in being used by the Lord to love Him and to love others.  This is not saying you can't have a vacation here and there but do you take a vacation from being used by Him?

The first question of the Westminster Catechism is, "What is the chief end of man?" or we could say, "What is the desire of man?"  The answer is, "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."  There is no sluggard actions there or refusal to be at it.

v.26 - All day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Wanting more for yourself in a selfish way leaves you craving more from something that has an end.  The righteous is at giving out more and receives from the One who has no end.  It goes against logic that I would give and give and give and not run out.  It would be more logical to crave and crave and crave to acquire more for self but the Bible says this person will end the day craving more and never seems to have enough.  The reason is the qualities of what is supplying the needs.  The righteous have an endless God who supplies while we pour ourselves out for him with a "no hold back" attitude.

v.27 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, how much more when he brings it with evil intent!

This action of being a sluggard and not desiring to be used of God is an abomination to God but the proverb says how much more it is if the one doing these actions has in mind to hinder others in the process.  One is blindly going along with the crowd on the bandwagon of self, self, self or me, me, and me.  The other is purposely plotting to take advantage of others in evil ways to have more for me, me, me.  Again, as Solomon has said before, God sees this action and it is disgusting to Him.  The wicked's sacrifice that is focused on self and not God is described in Isaiah 1:13-15. 

"Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me.  New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.  I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.  So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.  Your hands are covered with blood."

Needless to say, don't play around with religious services that are for God and make them into something for gain to yourself.  Let us pray.

"Lord, may our desire be You.  Lord, may our hands be about Your business.  Lord, may our cravings be for You as we give all day long out of Your supply.  Lord, may our worship of You be to You and for You and only on You.  Lord we pray.  Amen."

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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