The Coming of Poverty and Want - Proverbs 24:34

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse thirty-four of Proverbs Solomon said, “so shall your poverty come as one that travels” where we read,

So shall your poverty come as one that travails;

and your want as an armed man.

The verse begins, “So shall your poverty come as one that travels;” Solomon began with the words, “so shall your poverty” or “even thus and indeed will your, Solomon's readers and listeners', poorness and impoverishment” “come as one that travails” which means “enter and be attained similar to a person whether male or female who is a thief, robber or bandit”. Solomon shared how the person who allows napping and dormancy to cause their fields to be overgrown will have impoverishment pounce on them like a robber or bandit. 

The verse goes on to say, “and your want as an armed man.” Solomon continued with the words, “and your want” or “and your, Solomon's readers and listeners', need, lack and poverty” “as an armed man” which means “similar and in likeness to a person whether male or female who wears a buckler or shield”. Solomon said people who are prone to nap and be dormant will have lack and poverty come upon them similar to an armed robber. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how “poverty” and “want” are the result of napping and dormancy when there are tasks at hand. God wants us to labor in His fields because there are many people who are “lost” in this world, (See John 4:35) and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion and desire to work in His field and never neglect or grow dormant while the harvest is ready. 

Next time we begin a new chapter and see the writer say, “these are also the proverbs of Solomon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".