What Does The Bible Say About Those Who Love To Sleep?
The bible has a fair bit to say about sleep and rest, but is there a specific verse that talks about those who love to sleep a lot? If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: There is no single, definitive bible verse that clearly calls out those who love sleeping.
However, there are verses that promote hard work over laziness and warn against overindulging in sleep.
In this comprehensive article, we will analyze various biblical passages that relate to sleep, rest, laziness and indulgence to better understand the bible’s guidance around oversleeping and loving sleep.
Verses Warning Against Laziness and Lack of Diligence
Proverbs 6:9-11
Proverbs 6:9-11 warns against laziness and lack of diligence: “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 thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
This passage criticizes those who sleep too much and waste time lying in bed instead of working diligently. It uses rhetorical questions to provoke the lazy person to wake up and get to work. The imagery of poverty and scarcity coming like a thief powerfully conveys the consequences of long-term laziness.
Proverbs 20:13
Proverbs 20:13 states: “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” This verse bluntly warns that loving too much sleep leads to poverty, while hard work leads to prosperity. It draws a clear contrast between the outcomes of laziness versus diligence.
The message is that we must make sacrifices and not overindulge in relaxation if we want to succeed in life. Getting adequate rest is important, but excessive sleeping is counterproductive. Overall, this proverb motivates the reader to avoid laziness and work hard.
Proverbs 24:30-34
Proverbs 24:30-34 provides a vivid example of the consequences of laziness: “I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 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 passage describes a field gone wild from neglect.
The imagery powerfully illustrates how laziness leads to ruin and poverty coming like a thief. The speaker emphasizes learning from observation – we can avoid such consequences by heeding the example and working diligently.
Verses Promoting Hard Work and Diligence
Proverbs 13:4
The desire of the diligent leads to life, but the complacent crave yet do not attain. This proverb teaches us that hard work and diligence lead to positive results, while laziness leads to unfulfilled desires.
Those who work hard are rewarded with life’s necessities and the satisfaction of accomplishment. In contrast, the idle may crave good things but their sloth prevents them from attaining what they want. This verse promotes diligent effort as the path to prosperity.
Proverbs 14:23
Hard work means profits; mere talk leads to poverty! This proverb contrasts hard work and empty words. Diligent effort leads to material gain, while useless chatter results in poverty. Rather than engaging in pointless conversation, we should actively work to better our circumstances.
This verse advocates action over lip service – if we want financial stability and success, we must labor diligently. The path to prosperity is paved with hard work, not idle talk.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men. This verse instructs us to work hard and diligently in all that we do, not as people-pleasers, but as serving Christ.
Our work ethic and attitude should not be dependent on human recognition or what others can do for us. Rather, we work ultimately for God’s glory. This transforms even mundane tasks into sacred duties, infusing them with spiritual significance and meaning.
Knowing our labor honors the Lord motivates us to give our best effort in everything. Diligence is energized by a desire to please God.
Verses About Getting Proper Rest and Sleep
Psalm 127:2
Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.” This verse reminds us that God wants us to get proper rest, and we should not wear ourselves out by overworking.
While hard work is admirable, God desires balance in our lives between work and rest. Trying to get ahead solely by our own efforts is futile if it leads to exhaustion. God grants refreshing sleep to those He loves, so we can trust Him to provide while also getting the rest our bodies need.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The book of Ecclesiastes states in 5:12, “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.” This verse contrasts the sleep of those who work hard with those who have riches.
The laborer sleeps soundly after a day’s work, while the rich may stay awake worrying about their wealth. Though being poor brings difficulties, the simple joys like a good night’s rest are blessings. Riches cannot buy the gift of peaceful sleep that God graciously gives the weary workers.
This verse encourages us to be content with simple pleasures.
Jeremiah 31:26
In Jeremiah 31:26, God says, “At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.” This verse describes when God gave Jeremiah a pleasant dream, showing the prophet His gracious plans to restore Israel.
God knew Jeremiah had been experiencing stress and fatigue from declaring judgment to the stubborn people. So, He granted His servant this sweet sleep and vision to renew the prophet’s spirit. The lesson for us is that God cares about our need for rest.
He wants to give us refreshing sleep to lift our souls when life weighs us down. Pleasant sleep is a gift from above.
Verses Warning Against Self-Indulgence and Lack of Self-Control
Proverbs 25:16
Proverbs 25:16 warns that if you indulge yourself with too much honey, you will become sick. This serves as a metaphor for overindulging in any pleasure or desire. When we lack self-control and gorge ourselves on something to excess, there are negative consequences.
Just as too much honey will make you vomit, too much of anything pleasurable can ruin its enjoyment and be spiritually unhealthy.
1 Corinthians 6:12
1 Corinthians 6:12 encourages temperance and self-control when it comes to earthly pleasures. “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial” (NIV). As Christians we have freedom in Christ, but should be careful not to become enslaved to anything.
If we obsessively and compulsively indulge in food, relationships, alcohol, technology, or any other area, it demonstrates a lack of self-mastery.
2 Peter 2:13
2 Peter 2:13 condemns those who revel in their dissipation and carousing while they feast with believers. They have eyes full of adultery and never stop sinning. They seduce the unstable and have hearts trained in greed.
As Christians, we must guard our hearts against self-centeredness and prayerfully surrender areas prone to excess to God’s refining grace daily. Overindulging our appetites often hurts relationships with God and others.
The consistent Biblical message is to pursue self-control out of love for God and others. If we make an idol of anything and lack discipline, we open ourselves to spiritual harm. But if we set healthy boundaries around earthly pleasures, prioritizing service and honoring God, we enjoy His blessing and protection.
Conclusion
In summary, while no verse specifically calls out those who love sleeping, biblical guidance promotes diligence, hard work and self-control over laziness and overindulgence. Getting proper rest is encouraged, but oversleeping due to lack of self-discipline goes against biblical values.
By following principles around diligence and self-control, one can lead a productive life while also getting sufficient rest.
