The sleeper's slumber is dramatically represented as being awakened by
armed robbers who bring a grim awakening. 'Poverty' and 'want' break
in on his 'folding hands to sleep.' That is true as regards the
outward life, where indulgence in literal slothfulness brings want,
and the whole drift of things executes on the sluggard the sentence
that if 'any man will not work, neither shall he eat.'
But the picture is more sadly and fatally true concerning the man who
has made his earthly life 'a little sleep' as concerns heavenly
things, and in spite of his beseechings, is roused to life and
consciousness of himself and of God by death. That man's 'poverty' in
his lack of all that is counted as wealth in the world of realities to
which he goes will indeed come as a robber. I would press upon you all
the plain question, Is this fatal slothfulness characteristic of me?
It may co-exist with, and indeed is often the consequence of vehement
energy and continuous work to secure wealth, or wisdom, or material
good; and the contrast between a man who is all eagerness in regard to
the things that don't matter, and all carelessness in regard to the
things that do, is the tragedy of life amongst us. My friend! if
_your_ garden has been suffered by you to be overgrown with
weeds, be sure of this, that one day you will be awakened from the
slumber that you would fain continue, and will find yourself in a life
where your 'poverty' will come as a robber and your want of all which
_there_ is counted treasure 'as an armed man.'
One word more. Christ's parable of the sower may be brought into
relationship with this parable. He sows the true seed in our hearts,
but when sown, it, too, has to be cared for and tended. If it is sown
in the sluggard's garden, it will bring forth few ears, and the tares
will choke the wheat.