When poverty visits a man like an armed robber

How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man (Proverbs 6:9–11, ESV)

One of the most astonishing truths I found out for myself in my study of the scriptures is that poverty has a cause. I know many of you might be surprised to know that poverty or financial struggle is not accidental. It is not by chance. There are traits in a man that can accurately predict whether they will be broke or rich. These traits are both spiritual and natural. One of such natural traits that can predict poverty with 100% accuracy is mentioned above except those born with a golden spoon in their mouth.

The trait is sluggishness. Solomon asked the question above, “how long will you lie, there, o sluggard?”. He then tells the sluggard what will happen to him if he continues in his sluggishness, folding his hands to rest. He says poverty will visit him like an armed robber! What does this mean?

In brief, the sluggard here is a man whose HANDS ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. It means a person who is just not doing anything that can bring him money. There are two major reasons for this. The first is laziness. There are people who just do not want to work. Laziness attracts poverty as a magnet. However, laziness is not the only reason for sluggishness. In fact, the second reason is even more concerning because I found myself in it too. Many of us are truly not lazy but we are sluggish, meaning we are JUST NOT doing things that produce money, no matter the reason. There are people who want to work, but they are sitting down idle. Why? The possible reasons are many. Some might be waiting for the perfect job. Others might just be mentally blind to opportunities around them. Still, others might even be hardworking but are not smart to see money-making opportunities around them. This second reason is the killer cause of poverty where I come from, that is, Africa. You find smart, hard-working people who are broke. They are not lazy, but they are DOING NOTHING that can bring money, no matter the reason. Worst of all, they have VALID REASONS for doing nothing.

I pray that the Lord opens your eyes to chase financial struggle or poverty out of your life. I have written it before and will repeat it a million times, that there is more to divine prosperity than giving or sowing seeds. There is no question giving is central to God’s plan to activate the blessing in our lives, but if we fail to learn HOW TO MAKE THE BLESSING WORK in our lives, we will struggle financially.

Is poverty a guest currently lodging in your home? Take immediate steps to kick him out! Do not pray and ask the Lord to send him away because He will not. He has told you the things to do to keep away poverty in the Word!

MEDITATE

Is it hard to see why idle hands cause poverty? Think about this.

APPLY THE WORD

Are you struggling financially? Can you put your finger on the REASON you are struggling? If you are ignorant of the cause of your poverty, that ignorance is worse than the poverty itself. Poverty has a cause. Maybe yours might not be sluggishness above. It might be overspending or credit cards. Refuse to make poverty or financial struggle conformable in your home!