Bridges on Proverbs 20:13
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 20:13
 
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13.  Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
 
Use ‘sleep, as tired nature's sweet restorer.’† So man requires it. So God graciously gives it. (Psalm 3:5; 4:8; 127:2.) Without it “man” could not “go forth to his work and to his labor.” (Ib. 104:23.) Thus recruited for the active diligence of the day, he opens his eyes, “in the sweat of his brow he eats his bread (Genesis 3:19), and is satisfied with it.” But love not sleep for its own sake. ‘Let your sleep be necessary and healthful, not idle and expensive of time beyond the needs and conveniences of nature.’† Otherwise may it become a baneful and ruinous habit, by which the man of talent, who has much responsibility upon his hand, and no heart to act up to it — cometh to poverty. Valuable opportunities for improvements are let slip, and “the strong man armed” readily takes possession of his prey. (Chapter 5:9-11.) Strange inconsistency and delusion! Man wishes for a long life, and yet willfully shortens the life given to him by dozing it away in sleep!† The time given for eternity is wasted. The talent entrusted for trading is hid in a napkin. Nothing is done for God, for the soul, for his fellow-creatures, or for heaven. Justly is he cast out as a wicked, because a slothful, servant. (Matthew 25:14-30.)
Unquestionably the Christian degrades himself from his proper level by needless indulgence; choosing a state common to him with the brutes, before that which elevates him to fellowship with angels. Nor can he set his heavenly privilege of communion with God at a very high estimate, if he be not willing to sacrifice fleshly pleasure for the enjoyment of it. The evil however does not end with the present indulgence. The habits of the day are enervated. The mind is — at least partially — asleep, during the routine of occupation. What is idle, or calling for little effort, is alone agreeable. Every exercise of self-denial is revolting. It is sufficiently obvious that this spirit has little sympathy with the genuine spirit of religion — life and spirit, and joy and energy. It sinks far below the step and obligation of those, whose profession is — “temples of the Holy Ghost,”† “children of the light and of the day,”† “virgins with their lamps trimmed”† for the bridegroom's coming, animated candidates for an incorruptible and eternal crown.†
Specially should those of us, who are of a drowsy habit of body, listen to the call — Love not sleep. Here perhaps may be the Christian conflict, often most painful in the house of God. But in this solemn assembly — the gate of heaven — may we not hear the gentle rebuke, “What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” (Matthew 26:40, 41.) When resisted, it is an infirmity; when allowed, or only feebly opposed, it is sin. At all events, in the service of God it is safer to consider it, not as a weariness to be encouraged, but as an indulgence to be mortified, and that with vigorous energy of conflict. Else, whilst the self-denying Christian will open his eyes, and be filled with bread, the power of the flesh may impoverish the spirit by the indulgence of a lifeless habit of prayer, hearing, and meditation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Young.
 
 
Psalm 3:5
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
 
Psalm 4:8
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
 
Psalm 127:2
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
 
 
Psalm 104:23
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
 
 
Genesis 3:19
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Taylor’s Holy Living, Chapter I. Sect. i.
 
 
Proverbs 5:9-11
9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; {thy wealth: Heb. thy strength} 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 19:15. Dr. Doddridge’s life, though far from reaching the age of man (Psalm 90:10), was yet, by the resistance of this besetting temptation, virtually extended to the ordinary bounds. By his successful energy in redeeming time from sleep he accomplished his invalable work in the midst of multiplied engagements. See Family Expositor on Romans 12:13. ‘I take it for granted, that every Christian, who is in health, is up early in the morning. For it is much more reasonable to suppose a person up early, because he is a Christian, than because he is a laborer, or a tradesman, or a servant, or has business that wants him.’ — Law’s Serious Call.
 
 
Proverbs 19:15
15 ¶ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
 
Psalm 90:10
10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. {The days...: Heb. As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years}
 
Romans 12:13
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
 
 
Matthew 25:14-30
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. {talents: a talent is one hundred and eighty seven pounds ten shillings} 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 6:19.
 
 
1 Corinthians 6:19
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
 
 
Footnote:
1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6.
 
 
1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 25:7.
 
 
Matthew 25:7
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 9:24, 25.
 
 
1 Corinthians 9:24, 25
24 ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
 
 
Matthew 26:40, 41
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.