#Proverbs 6:9 King James Version (KJV) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Sleep can be a dangerous thing, if you get too much of it, or if you like it too much. It is especially hazardous for young men, whom Solomon emphasized in writing Proverbs. When do you get up? How do you get up? The time and manner in which you rise in the morning affects your success or failure in life. Great men get a head start on the day. They attack every day as an opportunity, rather than dreading it as a punishment. There are other factors also, but love of your bed in the morning will squander your potential. What a practical book! Those who think the Bible is irrelevant and an old theological dust collector have never read it. Solomon, the wisest and most successful king ever, knew the folly of youth and humanity, so he warned his son and you against loving sleep and sleeping too long [Proverbs 6:6-11 (AMP) Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!—7 Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest. 9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep—11 So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless]. Proverbs 10:5 (AMP) He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. Proverbs 19:15 (AMP) Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 20:13 (AMP) Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes and you will be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 21:17 (AMP) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. Proverbs 23:21 (AMP) For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Proverbs 24:30-34 (AMP) I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—34 So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.]. Young men play hard and sleep hard. Since they have not had the weight of responsibility and burden of producing for a family, they will take every minute they can get under the covers before falling out and stumbling into a day. But they are not the only ones. Some older men think they deserve extra sleep because they have already worked hard in life. Some women think they can make the day go away by staying in bed under warm covers. Cuddling with blankets helps them procrastinate and fantasize about not working. Instead they have fewer hours, less energy, and more to do when they get up. Young women, who play much of the day in today’s world, cannot imagine why they should ever get up. “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” is credited to Benjamin Franklin, though it was a saying before he was born. Mark Twain, who thought that rising before 9:30 was a terrible evil, ridiculed Ben’s proverb. But God and Solomon had given the inspired rules 3000 years before. An early approach does lead to wisdom [Proverbs 8:17 (AMP) I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.]. And an early approach does lead to wealth [Proverbs 6:9-11; 20:13; 24:33-34 / see above]. Are you tired in the morning? Then go to bed earlier. Sleeping during prime time will not only help you rise in the morning, but it will also save you from the worst that Hollywood offers. Do you not sleep well at night? Then get on a schedule and allow yourself less sleep. All other things being equal, a laboring man will sleep very peacefully [Ecclesiastes 5:12 (AMP) The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the fullness of the rich will not let him sleep.]. Is it hard to get up in the morning? Build a habit and routine that is good for you. A strict schedule and routine help most people. Do not use a snooze button on your alarm clock. When it is time to get up, then get up, right then. Immediately take a shower or apply water to your face in some other way. Wake up! Get up! Get dressed! Get going! Life is short, why waste it in bed! You need a sense of time urgency to attack days [Ecclesiastes 9:10 (AMP) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going.]! The world has conspired against the wisdom here. Daylight saving time provides more time for playing in the evenings and less sunshine for rising in the mornings. If saving daylight is important, why not save it in the morning by moving the clocks back an hour? Men could get a day’s work done before lunch. But men would much rather play late. The proverb has a definite limit. Night and sleep are part of God’s plan for men. In fact, He does not want you going without pleasant sleep, thinking that success depends mainly on your efforts [Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.]. He expects you to only apply this proverb within reason, for any efforts beyond that are vain and worthless; He wants you to sleep [Psalm 127:2 (AMP) It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.]! Getting up early and not sleeping too long are only part of life. Once you get up, what will you do? God commands you to have a good job and be diligent at it [Romans 12:11 (AMP) Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Ephesians 4:28 (AMP) Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (AMP) To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you, 12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.]. This is the main intent here so you can follow the example of the industrious ant [Proverbs 6:6-8 / see above]! After work you have your other duties—marriage, children, parents, church, finances, house, neighbors, nation, exercise, and so forth. There is a better reason to rise early. You can seek the Lord and wisdom then. You are sharper (once fully awake!). There are fewer outside or mental distractions. You will be interrupted less. It puts the priority on God and wisdom. It prepares your soul for the day. And it is Scriptural [Psalm 5:3 (AMP) In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 55:17 (AMP) Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice. Psalm 119:147 (AMP) I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word.]. Reading your Bible, praying, and meditating before anything else is the way to a successful life [Job 23:12 (AMP) I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Psalm 19:7-11 (AMP) The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes. 9 The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is Your servant warned (reminded, illuminated, and instructed); and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 119:103 (AMP) How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:127 (AMP) Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold.].—
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 05:19:59 +0000
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