MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 10:26
THE VEXATIOUSNESS OF A SLUGGISH SERVANT
I. He is as smoke to the eyes. Smoke in the eyes prevents the accomplishment of a man’s purposes, or at least it hinders and annoys him in their execution. The eye is the light of the body; if vision is in any way obstructed or impaired, delay and vexation must ensue. So the employer of a sluggish servant must be the victim of perplexity and annoyance. He sends him on an errand, or entrusts him with a work which it is important should be done within a certain time. But he lingers over it until the time is long past, and perhaps an opportunity is lost which can never be recalled. Much often depends upon the performance of duties up to time. The want of punctuality sometimes is as disastrous as not doing the thing at all. How many plans have been frustrated, how many sufferings have in various ways been entailed upon men, by delay in the performance of duty. A master who has to depend upon a sluggard is like a man in the midst of the smoke of a burning house; he is uncertain as to his present whereabouts, and ignorant of what mishap may befal him next.
II. He is as vinegar to the teeth. He is most irritating to the temper. As vinegar sours everything with which it comes in contact, so a sluggard sours the temper of those with whom he has to do, and makes them sometimes not only irritable with him who is the offender, but with the innocent also.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Does, then, the sluggard disappoint and provoke his earthly master? See that we be not such sluggards to our Heavenly Master. Laodicean professors are especially hateful in his sight (Revelation 3:16). The slothful minister carries in a tremendous account to Him that sent him. No more pitiable object is found than the man who has time to spare, who has no object of commanding interest, and is going on to the end as if he had spent his whole life in children’s play, and had lived to no useful purpose.… Why “standeth he idle in the market-place?” It cannot be—“No man hath hired him.” His master’s call sounds in his ears—“Go ye into the vineyard.” And at his peril he disobeys it (Matthew 20:7-30).—Bridges.
Sluggishness is a cutting, vexing thing. If we are Christ’s, we should crucify this self-pleasing affection of the flesh.… It is a sin to waste another man’s time, as much as to waste his property. “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” No doubt it is the natural disposition of some people to be slovenly and unexact. But what is your religion worth if it do not correct such a propensity?… If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. If the new life is strong in the heart, it will send its warm pulses down to the extremest member.… He who is a Christian in little things is not a little Christian; he is the greatest Christian, and the most useful. The baptism of these little outlying things shows that he is full of grace, for these are grace’s overflowings; and they are ever the overflowings of the full well that refresh the desert. The great centre must be fully occupied before the stream can reach that outer edge.—Arnot.