Writing about wisdom literature reminded me of a study I did a few years ago. Inspired by the hermeneutic used to condemn alcoholic beverages, I undertook a study of an evil that is similarly condemned in Proverbs and other books. Here’s something I wrote back then (the title played off a similar title that was sent to me):
SNOOZE OR THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
It’s time that we warned the church about: sleeping! Yes, though the Bible at times seems to speak favorably of sleep, I think we can see the evils of sleep outweigh any possible benefits we might find in that practice.
Let’s look at what the Bible says:
“Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 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.” (Proverbs 6:4-11)
“Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” (Proverbs 20:13)
“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.” (Proverbs 24:33-34)
Yes, Solomon, the great wise king, has much to say about the dangers of sleeping. But what about the New Testament? Revelation urges Christians to resist this temptation:
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” (Revelation 3:2-3)
We can also see that Paul did not approve of sleep: “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11) Though this is figurative, we can see that sleeping is used as a figure of evil.
It’s also connected with drunkenness: “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:7)
And Paul makes it clear that we have to choose: “This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”” (Ephesians 5:14) We can either sleep or we can have Christ shine on us.
Obviously positive references to sleep involve mere napping or nodding off, not sleep like we think of it today. We have no approved examples of Jesus or his apostles sleeping in a bed with a pillow and have no reason to think they would have condoned such behavior. Brothers, as we seek to stamp out the evils in our congregations, let us not forget this slumberous sin.
You should start an institute and take out ads in The Christian Chronicle and Gospel Advocate.
Sleep Use Is Abuse!
Tim,
This is a brilliant ‘reductio’ style argument. But i’m curious how a serious teetotaler would respond. Ever gotten such a response?
–guy
Guy,
I’ve been told that sleep is a necessary function.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
What is this thing you call “sleep?” I thought that was just for the First Century and was done away with when the Post-Industrial Revelation was complete…at least, that’s what they keep telling me at work.
Got to love a little contextual(?) satire…it made me smile… :-)
Mat 6:19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
“Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” (Proverbs 20:13)
“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.” (Proverbs 24:33-34)
Are we to follow Solomon, or Jesus??
Tim,
I doubt that we will ever manage to stamp out the evil of sleep. I can’t even stamp it out during my sermons:-)
Wes
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
(I don’t need to remind you of what happened after that, the downfall of the human race)
Gen 15:12 ¶ And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
Jdg 16:19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. (pick your places to sleep, carefully)
Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. ( you really want to be carefull when your (car) chariot, falls asleep)
Just some advise on when and where you sleep.
OK, Laymond, you got me. I can’t tell if you’re playing along or if you seriously think the point of this article was sleep.
Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Pro 27:23 ¶ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds.
love this, and good point wes
2 Cor 4:13 And we han the same spirit of feith, as it is writun, Y haue bileuyd, Y haue spoke; and we bileuen, wherfor also we speken;
Phl 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
I suppose I was exibiting more restraint, than you wanted or deserved. If you were not refering to drink, sleep or diligence. I have no idea what the point of the post was.
Acts 8:30-31 And Filip ran to, and herde hym redynge Ysaie, the prophete. And he seide, Gessist thou, whether thou vndirstondist, what thingis thou redist? And he seide, How may Y, if no man schewe to me? And he preiede Filip, that he schulde come vp, and sitte with hym.