Proverbs 21

DISCOURSE: 803
DESIRE IS NOTHING WITHOUT LABOUR

Proverbs 21:25. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

IT is the duty of a minister to “comfort the Lord’s people,” and on no account to “make the heart of the righteous sad.” Our blessed Lord “brake not the bruised reed, nor quenched the smoking flax:” and in this respect all who minister in his name must follow his example, never “despising the day of small things,” but “carrying the lambs in their bosom, and gently leading them that are with young.” But there are occasions whereon they “must change their voice, especially when they stand in doubt of any,” or judge it necessary to give a salutary warning to their flocks. Now there is an error against which I would wish affectionately to guard you, and that is, the laying of an undue stress upon good desires without pressing forward for the attainment of the object desired. To this line of instruction I am led by the passage before us; from which I will take occasion,

I. To shew you the influence of good desires.

It is plain that, in Solomon’s opinion, good desires, which when duly cherished and improved, will be productive of the happiest effects, may through sloth and indolence issue in self-deception and ruin. That we may have a just view of this important subject, I will mark the influence of good desires,

1. In the bosoms of the diligent—

[This, though not expressly mentioned, is evidently implied, since it is in the slothful only that good desires can have a fatal issue.
Now we need only see how desire operates in diligent men, whatever their vocation be, whether in trade, or agriculture, or science; and that will shew us how it will operate in reference to religion: it will stimulate men to such exertions as are necessary to the acquisition of the object desired [Note: Point out this in reference to the fore-mentioned pursuits.] — — — For the attainment of heaven, we must exert ourselves in away of “repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:” and, if our desires after heaven be sincere, they will render us earnest and laborious in the pursuit of these, and never suffer us to pause till we have actually attained them — — — Thus accompanied with diligence, they will bring us to the enjoyment of peace and holiness and glory — — —]

2. In the bosoms of the slothful—

[In them good desires may justly be said to occasion death. They do so indirectly, because they are not productive of suitable exertions. It is said, “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting [Note: Proverbs 12:27.].” And this is precisely the case with those whose conduct we are considering. They have, in consequence of their good desires, pursued and obtained the knowledge of religious truth; but in consequence of their sloth they have neglected to follow their advantages, and to improve their attainments for the benefit of their souls. Hence “their vineyard is overgrown with thorns, and the stone wall thereof is fallen down; yea, and poverty comes upon them (gradually) like one that travelleth, and want (irresistibly) like an armed man [Note: Proverbs 24:30.]:” so true is that declaration of Solomon, “He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster [Note: Proverbs 18:9.].”

But this is by no means the full sense of our text. It is not in an indirect way only that in the slothful man good desires operate to the production of death: no; they have a direct influence towards the destruction of his soul. The man in whose bosom good desires arise, is conscious of them; and takes occasion from them to entertain a good opinion of his state before God. He puts them in the place of good attainments; and, because he hopes that they shall at some future period accomplish their proper work, he overlooks the necessity of immediately experiencing that work, and conceives, that God will, if I may so speak, accept the will for the deed. To countenance this delusion, he applies to himself such promises as these; “The Lord will fulfil the desire of them that fear him [Note: Psalms 145:19.]:” “The desire of the righteous shall be granted [Note: Proverbs 10:24.].” He forgets that the end is connected with the means; and that, however we may acknowledge our obligations to God for ability to will what is good, we can have no hope of acceptance with him, unless we exert ourselves with all diligence to do it, and to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling [Note: Philippians 2:12.].” Hence he is a living witness of that melancholy fact, “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing, whilst the soul of the diligent is made fat [Note: Proverbs 13:4.].” Yes, to all eternity will he be a monument of that mysterious truth. “The desire of the slothful killeth him.”]

Having marked the operation of good desires, I now proceed,

II.

To offer some salutary counsel in relation to them—

Doubtless good desires must take the lead, yea, and must move us, in the whole of our Christian course: but, as “faith itself is dead without works,” so are good desires of no value any farther than they are productive of holy lives. I say then, if God have given to any of you good desires, see to it that those desires be,

1. Abiding—

[There are few persons so depraved but they have felt on some particular occasion the risings of good desire. But to what purpose are such emotions in the soul, if they “pass away like the morning cloud, or as the early dew [Note: Hosea 6:4.]” To know what is good, and not to do it, involves us in the heavier guilt [Note: James 4:17.], and will prove a ground of heavier condemnation to the soul; as God has said, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil [Note: John 3:19.].” If then you would derive real benefit from the desires which God has mercifully implanted in you, see that they take root within you, and become living and active principles in your souls.]

2. Operative—

[You desire to obtain salvation. It is well: but to what purpose will this desire be, if it do not stimulate you to action? Will a desire of knowledge render any one a philosopher, if he neglect his studies? Will a desire of a harvest enrich a man, if he neglect to cultivate his land? How then can you hope that a desire of heaven will ever bring you thither, if you neglect the concerns of your souls? You must read the Holy Scriptures with meditation and prayer: you must search out your sins, and mourn over them before God: you must get views of Christ as the only Saviour of the world, and must go to him continually that you may receive out of his fulness the grace that shall be sufficient for you. You must be gaining an increasing victory over the world, and the flesh, and the devil, and be growing more and more like unto your God and Saviour in righteousness and true holiness. You must be living more for God in the midst of this corrupt world, and be bringing glory to his name by your exertions in his sacred cause. It is in this way that your good desires must work, if you would have them productive of any saving benefit to your souls. The stony-ground hearers, whose desires were only temporary, perished, notwithstanding the fair appearances which for a season they assumed; as did the thorny-ground hearers also, because they “brought forth no fruit to perfection.” And you also must not only begin well, but “endure unto the end,” and “be faithful unto death,” if ever you would be saved in the great day of the Lord Jesus. The “slothful,” be they who they may, shall be condemned in that day as “wicked [Note: Matthew 25:26.].”]

3. Supreme—

[“You cannot serve God and mammon.” The world may have your hands; but God must have your heart, your whole heart [Note: Proverbs 23:26.]. He will not accept a divided heart [Note: Hosea 10:2.]. “The world must become crucified to you, and you unto the world [Note: Galatians 6:14.].” “Your affections must be set on things above, and not on things below [Note: Colossians 3:1.]:” and “your conversation must be altogether in heaven [Note: Philippians 3:20.].” “There must be nothing either in heaven or earth that you desire besides God [Note: Psalms 73:25.].”

You must resemble David, who says, “This one thing have I desired [Note: Psalms 27:4.]” and St. Paul, who says, “This one thing I do [Note: Philippians 3:13.].” Then shall God fully answer you in the desires of your heart, and your efforts be crowned with glorious success.]