The Bread of Idleness

KJV Proverbs 31: 27 "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness"

When planning this series of baby steps in my mind, I thought I would probably focus on health matters as the second step;  exercising, eating right, not being a glutton.  But the above scripture has invaded my mind, and every time I turn away from it I feel wrong.  And I want to turn away from it.  I don't like this scripture.

That's a pretty terrible thing to say, isn't it?  But it is true.  I don't want to take this baby step.  I like my bread of idleness.  I work all day to achieve a few moments of idleness here and there.  I dream about being idle...doing nothing.  A perfect day would involve me, a good book, the beach, and someone to bring me refreshment whenever I snapped my fingers. Or it would involve my family having a day where all we did was play.  No meal prep, no discipline, no routine   Just doing what we want when we feel like it.  Idleness. Idleness is so....appealing.  So when the scriptures tell me that a virtuous woman does not eat the bread of idleness, I would just as soon skip that part.

But I can't.

If I believe that Proverbs contains infinite wisdom, and I do; if I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, and I do; if I believe that those who conform their lives to the word of God will live a more blessed and happy life, and I do;  then I can't hide from this scripture.

So baby step number 2 is to not eat the bread of idleness.

This does not mean the virtuous woman is never idle....I think (I hope I am not deceiving myself).  See, in those days, bread was used for sustenance   It did not require meat and cheese to form it into a meal.  The bread of Bible times was hearty, nutritious, and filling.  It was real food.  It sustained life.  To prove this point, consider John 6:48 (KJV) where Christ says "I am that bread of life."  Do you think He was saying "If you take me and add a little of this and a little of that you will have everlasting life"?  Or was He saying "I an the sustenance of everlasting life?"  I believe the latter.

So the Proverb is saying the virtuous woman does not indulge in, dream of,  focus on, center her thoughts and time around... idleness.  She doesn't work so that she can be done and read a book.  She doesn't have daydreams of soaking up some rays and sipping a cool drink.  Her money and efforts are not geared toward entertainment.  Instead, she looketh well to the ways of her household.  Her efforts, thoughts, attention, goals, and focus pertain to her household, not herself.

Isn't that really what idleness is about....self.  I'm too tired.  I deserve this.  I did my time.  All these statements are used to excuse idleness.  I....I....I......


So baby step number 2 is to not eat the bread of idleness, to look well to my household's ways, to keep busy, and to rest only when rest is needed, not so much whenever it is wanted.  And I need you, dear reader, to keep me honest.  If you disagree with what I have written above, please, let me know.  As I continue this series of post, if I seem reluctant to go where I need to, or if I am in flat out denial,  call me out.  My flesh has been fighting this step for days, and I am scared of deceiving myself.  So, please, in all seriousness, help me and pray for me.  This is not going to be easy.  I think I would rather diet, or get a root canal.  Okay, that is probably an exaggeration.  Probably.