Proverbs 24:30-34 (New International Version)
" I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-
and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man."

      Far from being a commentary on ones gardening skills, the wisdom of the Father found in Proverbs points out a malady common to all of us.
      First a few definitions to see the message clearly.
Sluggard: This is someone who knows what needs to be done, who has the ability, and everything they need to accomplish what needs to be done, but he chooses to be lazy, apathetic, and indifferent.
Lacks Judgment: No discernment. He is just blinded by his careless attitude and does not understand that there are consequences for his lack of decision and care.

      I find this portion of scripture to cause me to shake myself.  This individual seemingly is well off. He has a field with a vineyard, and with walls around it. The wording of “weeds everywhere “imply that it was no small plot of ground.  The malady is -he was comfortable with what he had, and became indifferent and apathetic to what was his.  But there is a price to pay for this. The vineyard begins to erode. It cannot produce fruit. The soil has become unusable, and the protection he had is now gone. The thief can come at will.
All because he was comfortable, at ease, and did not tend to what was his. He choose to sit on the couch, grab the remote and declare with his mouth half full of popcorn as he watches his team, “ I will get to it later”. One half hour later he is snoring on the couch, drooling.  This is repeated numerous times in numerous different ways, but always with the same approach and results day after day.  The writer says that as he observed this condition he learned a lesson.  Apathy, indifference, and thinking that the status quo is fine as it is, is a recipe for getting ripped off, and becoming poor.
      The spiritual lesson then is evident. The warning has come to us time and again.

• Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
     and Christ will shine on you.  Eph 5:14b
  
• Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Rom.12:11
  
• For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  2Timothy.1:6-7
  
• Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Gal. 6:7-9

      Oh but brother John, God is good, HE will take care of me, HIS grace covers all this and besides I have been a Christian for a long time now and I am resting in Jesus. (Sounds like denial to me)
Well excuse me, and let me get out of the way while your enemy- the thief -takes dead aim at that target you have on your back.  No- I am responsible to “seek HIM”. I am to “follow HIM”. I am to not forfeit the treasure that is within me.  Keep pressing on church. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord”.  Take advantage of a home group. Be faithfully committed to the Celebration Services. Get involved.  To stay still is to get stagnate, and ultimately we become blinded by our lazy casual, ho-hum attitude. We become cold. Our spiritual senses become dull.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 (New International Version)

      We hear this scripture quoted to invite those who do not have a relationship with HE who loves them the most and to be saved.  The real shocker is that ALL of Revelation 3 is written to the church! HE is speaking to the believer. I challenge you to read Revelation 3:15-18
      Stir yourself. Do not get so comfortable. Ask the Holy Spirit for renewed desire for The Word, ask for a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Spend time searching your heart with HIM- alone, and let HIS presence stir you, and then “get up” do what you know to do. Give no place for apathy, for if I do, I am being ripped off.

"A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-
 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
       and scarcity like an armed man."

      We have riches in Christ far beyond anything this world has to offer.  Put down the popcorn. Record the game. There is work to do, HIS kingdom is near.