The Wise Sluggard in His Own Conceit - Proverbs 26:16

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse sixteen of Proverbs Solomon said “the sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men” where we read,

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit

than seven men that can render a reason. 

The verse begins, “The sluggard is wiser I in his own conceit ...” Solomon began with the words, “the sluggard” or “the person whether male or female who is lazy, lax and indolent” “is wiser” which means “exists as more skilled, shrewd and prudent” “in his own conceit” or “within his, the lazy person's, own personal eye or mental and spiritual faculties” than the following. Solomon said the lazy person exists as more skilled and shrewd in their own personal view than the following. 

The verse goes on to say, “... than seven men that can render a reason.” Solomon continued with the words, “than seven men” or “compared to seven other people whether male or female” “that can render a reason” which means “who are able to turn back, return or come back with judgment, discretion and understanding”. Solomon said the lazy person thinks they are more skilled and shrewd than seven other people who are able to return a judgment. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how a lazy person believes themselves to be more skilled and prudent than seven other people who are able to return a judgment. Within their own view, the sluggard is the greatest. God knows this is not true, and because He loves everyone and desires to have a personal relationship with them, He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. (See John 3:16) When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us to understand the benefit of not being “slothful” nor believing that we are greater than everyone else. 

Next time Solomon shares about, “he that passes by, and meddles with strife”, 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".