Lazy or Not

(Pro 20:4 KJV) The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

I think there are times when we think of people as being “sluggards” (6102) when it is really just a matter of ignorance.  I am not a farmer, nor am I the son of farmers.  I don’t even know any farmers.  It would never occur to me to “plow” (2790a) after the harvest.  Before I plant maybe, but why after I bring in the grain?

With a little research it turns out that there are many potential benefits to plowing in the fall as well as controversy about the matter.  It would seem in Israel it was consider a “must do”.  Would you know that if you were a city boy? 

So?  We sometimes jump to conclusions about people who don’t do things the way we do.  It could be that they don’t know.  It could be that we are wrong.  I need to make sure of my motivation.  It better not be “Why take down the Christmas lights?  I will only need to put them up again next year.”