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On one occasion Solomon looked over the broken wall of a little estate which belonged to a farmer of his country. It consisted of a piece of ploughed land and a vineyard: One glance showed him that it was owned by a sluggard, who neglected it; for the weeds had grown right plentifully, and covered all the face of the ground. From this Solomon gathered instruction. Men generally learn wisdom if they have wisdom. Some look only at the surface, while others see not only the outside shell but the living kernel of truth which is hidden in all outward things. We may find instruction everywhere. We may gather rare lessons from things that we do not like.

I. THE DESCRIPTION OF A SLOTHFUL MAN. Solomon was right when he called him "a man void of understanding." Not only does he not understand anything, but he has no understanding to understand with. He is empty-headed if he is a sluggard. As a rule we may measure a man's understanding by his useful activities. Certain persons call themselves "cultured," and yet they cultivate nothing. If knowledge, culture, education do not lead to practical service of God, we cannot have learned what Solomon calls wisdom. True wisdom is practical; boastful culture vapours and theorises. Wisdom ploughs its field, hoes its vineyard, looks to its crops, tries to make the best of everything; and he who does not do so, whatever may be his knowledge of this, of that, of the other, is "a man void of understanding."

1. Because he has opportunities which he does not use.

2. Because being bound to the performance of certain duties he did not fulfil them.

3. Because he has capacities which he does not employ.

4. Because he trifles with matters which demand his most earnest heed. The Christian who is slothful in his Master's service has no idea what he is losing.

II. LOOK AT THE SLUGGARD'S LAND.

1. Land will produce something; some kind of fruit, good or bad. If you are idle in God's work you are active in the devil's work.

2. If the soul be not farmed for God, it will yield its natural produce. What is the natural produce of land when left to itself?

3. If we are slothful, the natural produce of our heart and of our sphere will be most inconvenient and unpleasant to ourselves.

4. In many instances there will be a great deal of this evil produce.

III. THERE MUST BE SOME LESSON IN ALL THIS.

1. Unaided nature will always produce thorns and nettles, and nothing else.

2. See the little value of natural good intentions. This man, who left his field and his vineyard to be overgrown, always meant to work hard one of these fine days. Probably the worst people in the world are those who have the best intentions but never carry them out. Take heed of little delays and short puttings-off. You have wasted time enough already; come to the point at once before the clock strikes again.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

WEB: I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;