Proverbs 26:11-15
Prov 26:11 (KJB)
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
 
In previous verses we read that there would be a rod for the fools back in hope of correcting his lifestyle. This verse is very plain in that just as a dog or any animal returns to their own vomit, the fool just cannot stay away from foolishness. This is because foolishness is inbred in the fool. Just as an animal lives according to their senses, the fool live according to his folly. This is why as soon as they come out of a situation which they caused, instead of assessing where the problem was, they go right back into their old lifestyle. Until they become saved, there is nothing you can say or do to stop them because they are wise in their own eyes.
 
Prov 26:12 (KJB)
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
 
In his own conceit - In his own eyes
 
Here is one of the hardest persons to reach with the Gospel. They are wise in their own eyes and that is a case of arrogance. You may bring them the gospel and they will rebuff it with their understanding of science or evolution. They will have an answer for everything that you bring them. On the other hand, in this instance even a fool has more hope than him because a fool normally does not have a good education and may be more open to the truth of the Gospel than one who is highly educated. (Mat 11:25 KJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even the Scriptures teach that the truths of the Gospel have been hidden from the wise and prudent, that is, those who are the highly educated and/or positioned highly in society. The fool may listen but the educated may rebuke.
 
Prov 26:13 (KJV)
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
 
The lazy man lives on excuses of why he cannot do this or that. In reality he is just too lazy to do anything and cares not if he is needed by someone else. It is not that he cannot do something, he will not. It is like the person who says they cannot get up for Sunday School, they are just too lazy. This also has a spiritual lesson for the believer. Many Christians will not go out and bring the gospel, whether it is to the streets or anywhere, simply because they fear that Satan might do something to them or attack them. So the lazy Christian uses the excuse that Satan, here represented by the lion, is going to do something evil to them. This type of anticipation has been used by Satan successfully to stultify any efforts by the believer to propagate the Gospel. (1 Pet 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: If you notice in 1 Peter 5:8, it says the lion is roaring, it does not say he is devouring. If you were to stand face to face with a roaring lion, and that is all he did, was just roar, you would not so much as even have a scratch. If Satan can get Christians to fear his roar, then stopping them completely is the next step and it would come very easy. This is why Christians should never fear the roar of the lion simply because our Lion is more ferocious, that is, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. (Rev 5:5 KJV) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Our Lion prevails while theirs only roars. He who has ears to hear!
 
Prov 26:14 (KJB)
As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
 
This is one of the most amusing descriptions of a lazy man, yet it must be understood that laziness is not funny at all. A door turns on its hinges as it goes from the inside to the outside. The door never does any other movement except opening and closing, as long as it is connected to the hinges. The lazy man is the same way. He likes to sleep late into the morning or into the afternoon. Just as the door swings both ways, the person under the covers also just swings both ways by turning side to side. If you ever looked at anyone who is in bed under covers, they look like a speed bump on a road. All you see is one long hump on the bed and when they turn to the other side, you are seeing the same thing. While they are over-sleeping they are accomplishing nothing and allowing their life to slowly dwindle away. While sleep is necessary for our bodies, it is also a kind of curse. Why? Because if you sleep 8 hours per night, that means 1/3 of your day is spent unconscious. If you live to be 90 years old, you have only experienced 60 years of life. He who has ears to hear! This is why we must never squander the time that the Lord has given us.
 
Prov 26:15 (KJB)
The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
 
It grieveth him - To become weary
 
This is the ultimate in laziness. The lazy man has before him the physical provisions of life but he is so lazy he does not even want to lift his hand to his mouth to put the food in. It is the same with those who shower once a week (or less) that have the shower available to them each day. Those who do not want to shower are just plain lazy. This is compared to the Christian who have the Bible but will not open it to get the truths of God into their mind. Laziness has many destructive qualities because refusing to do things is just as bad as doing things willfully wrong. Once in a while we all get a little lazy but when it becomes the lifestyle, then we are in for trouble. If this lazy man lays his hand upon his chest and it wearies him just to bring it to his mouth, then he has shown the ultimate in laziness since the chest to the mouth is only a few inches. Imagine asking this person to do something important. This is also the kind of person we must never trust to do something significant because they will cut corners so bad, that they will ruin the job totally and cause many problems for those who sent him. It is a shame but it seems like these are the kind of people who get promoted in business.

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