Proverbs 10:26

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 sluggard:

Proverbs 10:26 (NASBStr)

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

So is the lazy one to those who send him.

Proverbs 10:26 (ESV)

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

In the days of Solomon the messenger was an important asset.  It is hard to believe but they didn't have emails or even snail-mail.  They didn't have phones or text messaging.   The only way to get a message to someone was to send it via a messenger who would run to the place it was to be delivered and would deliver the correct message.  Solomon is telling us that one of the most important cogs in the wheel of that day's system is a messenger.  If he was not dependable to either go to the place he was supposed to deliver the message or to give the correct message, the system would fall apart.   Trusting in a sluggard person for such a great responsibility was like the acidic taste of vinegar, or that of smoke in the eyes.    This person can't be trusted because his character of slothfulness has hindered the performance of his duties.   One could suggest that this "messenger" was not so important.  The messenger was not the one who produced the message and was not the one who do something after hearing the message.   They were just the messenger.   And, according to this proverb, he was not even dependable for that  less important function.   Slothfulness causes a problem for the one who sends the message and the one who was supposed to hear it.   The proverb is a warning to let us know that if we are trusting in a lazy person we will be extremely irritated (vinegar) and annoyed (smoke).