SURE There Is...

(Proverbs 26:13 KJV)  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Here we have the third target of this chapter, the “slothful" (sluggard NASB) (6102).  I think this is the lazy person.  This seems to be the sluggard chapter.  There are four references to sluggards.  We find a very similar reference in 22:13,

PRO 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!"

The lazy will find any excuse to not move or work.

I think this is OT humor, but like all humor it has some basis in fact.  In California we occasionally see a news clip about a bear that has wandered down out of the mountains and it walking down a street in town.  It could happen, but the odds are it won’t. 

Sluggards are worriers.  They focus on all the possible things that could go wrong.  I must confess that I am guilty of this.  The only solution I know of is to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, be aware of the possibilities and get on with the task. 

So what if there is a lion in the street?  If God is telling you to get out there it has probably already eaten and is afraid of people.  Obedience is better than excuses.