Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. — Proverbs 20:13 KJV
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. — Proverbs 20:13 NIV
In our daily lives, whether in our careers, relationships, or personal goals, staying awake and engaged is crucial. Success and fulfillment come from active participation and effort and not from complacency or passivity.
Moreover, there is a broader implication about balance. While it warns against excessive sleep, it also indirectly highlights the importance of rest. The key is not to forsake rest entirely but to find a healthy balance that allows for both rejuvenation and productivity.
We should therefore maintain discipline and purpose in all aspects of life ensuring that our time is used wisely to cultivate a life of spiritual richness and worldly accomplishment.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask for Your guidance to stay spiritually alert, to seek You consistently, and to grow in faith and love. Help me to avoid the spiritual poverty that comes from inactivity, and fill me with a hunger for Your word and Your presence every day.
In Your loving mercy, keep me awake to the needs of others, responsive to Your call, and mindful of Your love and providence. I pray that my actions reflect Your glory and may my life be a testimony to Your grace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.