By: Obed Pineda
My father once told me a folklore about the laziest man that lived in the small town from where he is from. The story tells of a man who lived alone and in deep poverty because of his lackadaisical nature. He had not always been in such impoverished state seeing as, despite being a grown, able adult, he had been living with his mother his entire life and heavily depended on her for survival. Regardless of how persistently she urged him to get out of the house to go and find a job or learn a trade, he never listened to his mother’s pleas. Thus, one day his mother passed from this life and he was awarded an inheritance that could sustain him for some time. Sadly, even from her grave she continued to indulge his lethargic lifestyle. Eventually he had squandered away all of his mother’s hard earned money by paying other people to care for him as his mother had and not long after her death he fell into poverty. His profound level of slothfulness was exhibited the day he ran out of food that had been left prepared for him to just heat up and eat. Realizing that there was no one who would be willing to cook for him, he decided that death was preferable over having to cook for himself, and thus he would host his own funeral. Thus, he announced to all his neighbors that instead of waiting to perish from hunger, he wanted to be buried alive for he was already dead. He cunningly convinced certain strong men to carry him in his bed to his mother’s grave site where he was to be buried next to her, and all of the community was invited to march him to his grave. As he was being carried to his burial, an old farmer, on his way home from an arduous day in the field, inquired as to what was going on. He was notified that the man on the bed had decided that he would rather be buried alive than to starve to death. Upon hearing this, the old man readily rose his voice to capture the living corpse’s attention to bring the funeral procession to a halt. He came to the slothful man’s bedside and informed him that there was no need for him to give up on life, for he had a bundle of bananas that he had just cut off from a tree that he was willing to gift him so that he would not go on being hungry. The old farmer’s offer intrigued the lazy man, but before accepting he asked the farmer one question: Are the bananas already peeled and ready to eat? The old man responded that they were not, that he would have to peel them himself if he wanted to eat. Hearing the old man’s response, the indolent man immediately shouted, “Let the burial continue!” The moral of this fictitious comedy is best stated by Holy Writ’s query: “How long will you slumber, o sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep – so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11, cf. Proverbs 24:30-34). It is not a secret that God does not approve of an indolent lifestyle, considering that Jesus revealed to the Jews who accused Him of violating the Sabbath, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:16-17). Indeed, the world created and sustained by the mighty hand of God serves as witness to His diligent nature (cf. Acts 14:17, 17:24-28). Bringing fort into our memory as well that “in the day God created man, He made him in the likeness of God” it aids us in understanding why the Almighty stands firmly against the sluggard (Genesis 5:1). The Bible teaches us that those whom the Father holds as beloved children are the same who imitate Him by how they live their lives (cf. Ephesians 5:1, 15-17). Israel’s failure to complete their conquest of Canaan is exposed by Joshua’s reprimand as neglect as he asked, “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you” (Joshua 18:3, cf. Judges 1:19-2:6)? It is true that Jehovah God had promised to deliver those dwelling in Canaan into the hands of Israel, but this would only be true if Israel complied with His commandment of driving out all the inhabitants of the promised land (cf. Numbers 33:50-56). This was clearly no easy task when we keep in mind that the Lord God was speaking about waging war against multiple foes who were very familiar with the land they sought to possess (cf. Numbers 14:1ff). This, too, implied that it would be a long, grueling process that required Israel’s full attention and dedication, because God warned that taking the easy route out (i.e. making treaties with them and putting them under tribute) would inevitably lead them to their own demise (cf. Joshua 23:11-13). Jehovah’s warning went unheeded and the reality of it manifested exactly as He had proclaimed it would. Israel’s downfall in completely possessing the land of Canaan came about due to their compromises born from comfort and complacency. In other words, the children of Israel grew tired of driving the wicked settlers of Canaan out of the land and found it easier to place them under tribute in exchange to allow their lingering influence to remain. Perhaps they believed that they had discovered another way in both subduing their enemies and fulfilling God’s directive, but it is irrefutable that His holy decree was abundantly clear (cf. Exodus 23:32-33, 34:11-16). The apostle Paul, by inspiration, also cautions the Christian today through his exhortation to Timothy stating, “you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2nd Timothy 4:5). One must not ignore that as Christians we are marching toward the celestial promised land identified as heaven, which God has promised to deliver to all who are faithful. Yet, like in the days of Moses and Joshua, we must devote our focused attention and dedication to this spiritual warfare against powerful foes who aim to become obstacles blocking our entrance into the everlasting Kingdom (cf. 2nd Timothy 2:1-4, Ephesians 6:10-18). It is imperative that we do not fall into conformity (which is a type of slothfulness) which will lead us to making compromises that will cost us receiving the eternal promise (cf. Romans 12:1-2, 1st John 2:15-17). Like He did for Israel, the Almighty has already delivered us from the hands of our enemies and secured the promised land for us, but we must not grow tired of fighting for our salvation until the very end (cf. Hebrews 2:1-18). Our wise Master is offering us the bundle of bananas that we need to obtain strength and energy to continue fighting, but it is our duty to take them from His hand, peel them, and then eat them to nourish our soul. Therefore, “do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10-11).