6 Proverbs for a Leader’s Work EthicNäide

Sleep Deprivation 

“Then I saw and considered well. I saw, and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so, your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man. (Pro 24:32-34) 

I’m not a big fan of poverty. I certainly don’t see it as some kind of sanctified state. We endeavour to address it in other lands and where it exists in our own countries. But sometimes, lack hits a lot closer to home. 

Riches, wealth, or even just sustainable provision can be an illusion of certainty. I have seen it often in business, where good companies failed to address issues based on a false illusion of their own right to exist. They became lazy. 

Poverty and want here in this proverb come as a robber or an armed man. Intruders and vagabonds operate suddenly. We don’t see an armed man crawling slowly toward us over a week or two. Robbery is a sudden event. 

So what can cause this ‘sudden downfall’ in our lives, our teams, and our organisations? A little sleep, a little slumber, maybe a little rest. We can easily be lulled into a false sense of security and then suddenly...

We need to be mindful that we have an enemy and that he too has a plan. To overcome this strategy, we need to do the opposite. Stay alert, don’t become complacent, remain diligent, and apply ourselves in excellence at work, for the glory of God. 

Quick Prayer: Keep me diligent, awake, and aware of the plans of the enemy. Amen.