Proverbs 26.12
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Arrogance is dangerous. Very dangerous. And because we tend to be self-oriented, arrogance is an easy trap to fall into. We all have a tendency to be “right in our own eyes.” However, we must understand—as the book of Proverbs teaches—that arrogance is the way of a fool, whereas humility is the way of wisdom.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11.2)
If you recall, the word for pride here is the Hebrew zadon. It refers to arrogance and self-centered pride that rejects God’s standards and authority. This kind of pride is marked by an inflated sense of personal authority (“I am in charge of things around here.”), a rebellious disobedience (“I don’t have to listen to you!”) and willful selfishness (“It’s my life. I can do what I want.”).
Zadon — arrogance and selfishness — is the spirit of our time. Many people live and work in willful disregard for God’s standards and principles. They act not on the basis of timeless truth, but on the basis of personal preference, popular narrative, and selfish pride. It is a disastrous way to go about life.
Proverbs 26.13
“The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’”
This is the first of a four verse passage that focuses on the “suggard.” This verse repeats the message of Proverbs 22:13, and it lampoons lazy people for using feeble excuses for avoiding work. While it is true that lions could be found in Palestine at this time, they were not so numerous that they could be a legitimate excuse for not leaving one’s house. This is “the dog ate my homework” excuse.
Proverbs 26.14
“As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.”
This verse criticizes the inclination of lazy people to spend too much time in bed. They are fixed in bed like a door on its hinges, and they turn in bed like a door swinging in place. Sluggards may move, but they don’t go anywhere; they make no progress. It is a vivid picture of indolent people.
Proverbs 26.15
“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.”
This verse is a repetition of Proverbs 19:24. How lazy is the sluggard? He is so lazy that he puts his hand into the dish to grab food, but doesn’t have the energy to bring the food to his mouth. Can you see the picture? The lazy person is sitting at the table, slouched over, hand in the bowl, doing nothing. Not even hunger can motivate him to finish the job by lifting his hand and the food to his mouth. Lazy indeed!
Proverbs 26.16
“The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.”
The problem at the heart of laziness, and probably the reason lazy people perpetuate their self-destructive behavior, is that they are “wise in their own eyes.” Because of that they reject direction and correction. They are not teachable or coachable. Indeed, they claim that they are wiser than even seven wise and discerning people.
The number seven is often a biblical symbol of completeness and truth. In other words, lazy and arrogant people try to create their own truth.
