Proverb for the Day 24:33-34 - Sleep & Scarcity - It Happens!

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

This wise saying addresses a regular theme in Proverbs and is identical to 6:10-11. It actually starts off rather innocently – “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.”

That doesn’t sound like a big deal…but, sadly, such a way of thinking and living can so quickly degenerate to an unwillingness – even an inability – to focus, follow through and get things done.

And, quicker than we can imagine, it leads to “poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” At some point our lack of inertia will end in “poverty…and scarcity.”

It will come on us quietly, even unexpectedly – “like a thief.” And when that time comes, it will arrive with a vengeance “like an armed man.” Poverty and scarcity will overtake us before we even realize it’s happened!

This wise saying sounds so tragic, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why God offered us these insights. In fact, He thought it was such good advice – He decided to say it twice!