TEXT: Proverbs 6:1-15

SUBJECT: Exposition of Proverbs #11: Sureties, Sluggards, and Schemers.

This chapter is a hodgepodge of Divine Wisdom. Five topics are presented, three of which we'll try to study this evening. They are sureties, sluggards, and schemers. The characters were common in Solomon's world, and in ours. They had a place among the Lord's people then and can be found in the Church of today. May God save us from such people, for Christ's sake. Amen.

"Surety" is an old-fashioned word. It refers to someone who co-signs a loan. In doing so, he promises to make good on another man's debt. The pledge is not possible, but actual; he has "shaken hands" on it; he has taken a vow. He thinks himself generous; Solomon says he's a fool. His oath has "snared" him; he's "taken by the words of his mouth". Why? Because the thoughtless word is binding! The believer is not permitted to go back on it. His "yes must be yes; and his no must be no".

There is only one escape clause: If the man to whom he has made the promise lets him out of it. He ought to seek the release, no matter how embarrassing. He's must "humble [himself]" to his friend, and "plead" to be let out of the agreement. It must be a priority--even before sleep. It must be sought with the energy spent by a "gazelle" fleeing its hunter or a "bird" flying from the "fowler".

If the man refuses, the surety is to make good on his word, be it ever so painful or costly. Ecclesiastes 5:4 sums it up: "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools". "Ah ha!--someone says--"but I didn't take a vow; the promise wasn't made to God!" Yes it was. Under the New Covenant, your word is a sacred oath. To renege on it is no better than lying to God. Ananias and Sapphira died for that sin; we may too.

How do these ancient words apply to us? Like this: We ought to be scrupulously careful with our words and keep them to the letter. If we stuck to everything we said, we'd choose our words more wisely and become more reliable. Both are pleasing to God; both reflect the moral beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was "full of grace and truth". Our goal is to be like Him.

More specifically, these words apply to our finances. Do we write checks we can't cover? Do we charge items we can't afford? Do we take out loans we can't repay? If so, we've lied to man and to God. If we promptly paid every debt we incurred, you know what would happen? We wouldn't incur so many debts!

A "sluggard" is a lazy person; he may be hyper-active, but he prefers ease to work. What would the Lord have him do? He'd have him learn from the hardest working creature God ever made, the ant. Think about it: Have you ever seen an idle ant? A sleeping ant? A malingering ant? Never!

Ants are self-motivated. They have "no captain, overseer, or ruler". In other words, they aren't forced to work. They work on their own initiative. The ant works by intuition; the believer works by conscience. He works hard--not because he's being watched or is afraid of losing his job--but because it is right, well-pleasing to Christ, and a good testimony to His grace. Too many give "eyeservice" to their employers. Colossians 3:23 ought to be our motto at work: "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men".

Ants take forethought. They "provide supplies in the summer and gather food in the harvest". Crops don't grow year-round. The ants know this. Consequently, they up their efforts when food is readily had. Not even the ant can find food in the winter; therefore, he carries enough in the fall to carry him through the months to follow. Our incomes often vary from month-to month and year-to year. Construction workers, for example, have far more work in the summer than in the winter; they ought to budget accordingly. But many don't: They spend every last dime they earn in July and then cry out to God when they haven't got enough for December! The same is true long-term. Most men will make more at forty than they will at seventy. Yet many think otherwise: They don't save in the "fat years" and go hungry in the "lean years". The same can be said about saving for a car, for college, and for other expenses. Do you think your car will last forever? If not, then why don't you save for a new one? Will college be free when your children reach the age? Will you ever need a new roof? In particular, these contingencies can't be seen. But, in general, we all know their coming. Why don't we prepare for them? When we spend without thought for the future, we prove ourselves more foolish than the ant! Perhaps we ought to "consider her ways and be wise".

Turning from the ants, Solomon shoots a word our way. He chides the sluggard for procrastinating. The lazy man is full of plans, but he doesn't carry them out. Why not? Because he's going to start on them tomorrow! He won't be idle for months or years! He'll get around to working after "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands".

The result: The lazy man's "poverty will come on him like a robber and his need like an armed man". He'll be mugged by poverty. It is possible to judge the poor too harshly--as though all poverty is a sign of indolence. Nothing could be further from the truth! Who was poorer than our Lord? Yet who worked harder than He? But--let's face it--it is also possible to judge the poor too leniently. Some poverty is caused by a lack of ambition or a willingness to work hard and stay at it. We shouldn't judge others; we should judge ourselves. If a lack of planning or discipline is the cause of your financial woes, repent of it, and perhaps God will bless you with a good living. As it is written: "He who deals with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes one rich" (Proverbs 10:4).

In the third place, the schemer is described and his end is foretold, vv.12-15. The man is guilty of three wrongs: "Winking his eyes, shuffling his feet, and pointing his fingers". What does this mean? He's signalling to his partners in crime. What are they up to? They are "sowing discord" or breaking up friendships. Why are they doing it? For selfish reasons. Is it because they're cranky one day? No. It is their way of life. Hebrews 12:15 calls them "roots of bitterness" which "spring up" and "defile many".

What will become of the schemer? "Calamity" will befall him--a terrible judgment from Heaven. When will it come? "Suddenly"--without warning. How serious will it be? Plenty--"Without remedy".

"Sowing discord" is a perennial temptation. And universal too. It's caused by envy and pride. It's met by a terrible and fatal judgment. If this is your peculiar sin, repent of it now. You may not have another chance. The Lord give you mercy.

"Sureties, Sluggards, and Schemers". On the surface, they have little in common. But in one thing they agree: They won't seek the wisdom of God in Jesus Christ. Their rejection of Christ and His ways is hurtful to all around them and ruinous to them. It is high time, therefore, that we seek His wisdom, that we make it "the principal thing", and that "in all of our getting, we get understanding". May the Lord communicate this wisdom through His Holy Spirit. And may we "meekly receive the engrafted Word which is able to save our souls".