Proverbs 15:19

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the way of the lazy person.  

Proverbs 15:19 (ESV)

The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

If you have ever run into a lazy person you might leave them and be amazed at all the reasons they give for NOT working.  It seems to be a constant work load they are willing to undertake: Finding reasons to not work.   In the above proverb we see that the lazy person can't work because they are, according to their thoughts, hedged in by thorns.   Since they are not out cleaning their field it doesn't take long for the thorns to multiple and hedge them in (Proverbs 24:30–31).   Sometimes they use the excuse that a lion is in the streets (Proverbs 26:13).  They go to great extremes to find a reason to continue in their lazy behavior.   Yet, the opposite of the slothful is not the diligent or hard worker.  In the second line above the opposite of the lazy is the upright.   So we see that laziness is an act of sin, not a choice of someone.   Sin causes lazy behavior.  The solution to a lazy state is a right relationship with Christ.   When that happens the upright has a "highway" in front of him/her.   The path of the upright is one of diligence and full of opportunity.   When you have Christ at the center you see the world in regard to possibility.  When you don't have Christ you have no hope and you see obstacles as thorns in your way and you feel hedged in by those circumstances.   So, slothful behavior is a spiritual condition.   Lazy behavior is due to a poor relationship with Christ.