NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION
“Little more sleep and slumber” is the theme for our reflection. Sleep is a condition of the body and mind that typically recurs for a few or several hours, in which the eyes are closed, the postural muscles relaxed, the activity of the brain altered, and consciousness of the surroundings practically suspended. Slumber on the other hand means to sleep light or doze. We shall examine the fact that a little more sleep and slumber leads to unproductivity.

Beloved in the Lord, a person who loves to have a little more sleep and slumber will eventually become unproductive, and unproductivity will lead to financial hardship or poverty. It is for this reason, King Solomon observed a lazy man’s attitude towards his vineyard and concluded that ” A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest —and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33-34). We are again greatly admonished to learn from the ant and be productive when King Solomon said that “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:6-11). Paul also admonished the believers in the Thessalonian Church that “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). In other words, a lazy, idle and unproductive person must not be entertained among believers.

We have no excuse to be lazy, idle or unproductive as believers. Jesus our Lord and Saviour was not an idle or lazy man. He said to those who wanted to follow him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20). Luke also testified to the productivity of Jesus when he wrote that “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38). Beloved in the Lord being productive means using one’s skills, knowledge and time to offer a service or create a useful product in return for wages or income. In other words, being productive means being creative by putting one’s skill, knowledge and time into good use. The fact that a person is unemployed does not mean that he or she should spend the whole day being idle or unproductive. Sometimes we may have to do work which we have not been trained for in order not to while away the time. The goal is to make a living or remain productive even as we aspire for higher opportunities. It is unfortunate that some unemployed Christians think that staying awake throughout the night to pray while staying at home to sleep during the day will cause a miracle to happen in their lives. Some people spend the whole day at prayer camps and on mountains expecting a miracle to happen. Another sad development is that those who have been employed or have a business they are managing sometimes go to work tired because they have not had enough rest due to staying awake all night to pray. This attitude may also affect productivity if it becomes a daily affair. Again, others leave their workplace, shops or productive hours to go and pray and fast when they are supposed to be meeting their daily and weekly targets or attending to customers. We are greatly admonished in the book of Ecclesiastes that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ² a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot (harvest) (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). Working hard or being productive comes with a reward. This is a universal principle established by God when He said to Adam “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. ¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. ¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, (Genesis 3:17-19) Both a believer and unbeliever, the righteous and unrighteous will be blessed so long as they become productive by putting their God-given knowledge, skill and time to work, for God “….makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) The only difference between a believer and an unbeliever is the grace and salvation the believer has through faith in Jesus Christ and the assurance of eternal life, but when it comes to being productive and being blessed it is a universal principle that a person who puts his or her God-given talent, skill, knowledge and time to good use will not be poor. He or she will be able to afford the basic necessities of life. No amount of prayer and fasting can replace the importance of diligence, hard work or productivity in our lives. In fact, the Psalmist assures us that God would bless us when we remain productive and fear Him when he wrote that “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! ² You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. (Psalms 128:1-2) In other words, how can you eat the fruit of your labour and be blessed if you engage in a little more sleep and slumber or if you continue to be idle and unproductive?

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, ” little sleep and slumber”. We have discovered and examined the fact that little more sleep and slumber leads to unproductivity. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the temptation to become idle or unproductive at our workplaces and in our businesses.
2. Let us pray for wisdom to use our time judiciously and productively.
3. Let us pray for our unemployed family members and friends.
4. Let us pray for promotion and elevation for our family and friends in their various professions even as we pray for our businessmen and women to flourish in their various businesses.

Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of work, we pray for good health, long life and prosperity even as we remain diligent stewards of our God-given skills, knowledge and time on earth. Amen.