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.