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Proverbs 24:30–34 — “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”

Neglect is one of the most subtle dangers in the Christian life. Rarely does a field become overrun with weeds overnight; it happens slowly, almost imperceptibly, as the farmer neglects his daily duty to tend it. In the same way, our hearts and spiritual lives can become overgrown with sin, distraction, and worldliness if we fail to watch over them with diligence. The warning of Proverbs 24 is clear: a neglected field will not produce a fruitful harvest.

Notice that the man described here was not necessarily rebellious or openly defiant. He was simply slothful—careless, inattentive, content to let things slide. Spiritual neglect often begins with small choices: skipping prayer for a day, ignoring the conviction of the Spirit, excusing a sinful habit, or neglecting God’s Word. Over time, these small compromises add up, and the vineyard of the soul lies in ruins.

The broken wall in the proverb is especially telling. In Bible times, walls were vital for protection. When the wall crumbles, the field becomes vulnerable to thieves and wild animals. Likewise, when we neglect prayer, worship, and obedience, we lower our defenses against the attacks of the enemy. Satan does not need open rebellion to destroy a life; he only needs negligence.

The lesson for us is sobering: spiritual growth requires daily cultivation. We cannot afford to fold our hands in laziness or delay tending to our souls. Every day we have the opportunity to pull weeds, repair walls, and strengthen our walk with God. The harvest of righteousness depends on it.

Let us learn from the slothful man and not repeat his mistake. Today is the time to take inventory of our hearts, to renew our diligence in prayer and obedience, and to ensure that our field is ready to bear fruit for the glory of God.