Sleeping on Duty

Matt.13:25
But when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and ran away.
For a healthy lifestyle, sleep is very important particularly because of its beneficial effects on the human body, such benefits include but not limited to keeping the heart healthy, strengthening the immune system, for emotional and mental wellbeing etc, in spite of all these benefits however, sleep time is the highest point of human vulnerability because all guards are let down.
In our memory verse above, Jesus alluded to the fact that while one needs sleep, the period is when the enemy becomes most active against our destinies. In this, Jesus used the issue of sleep to warn Christians that docility in our faith is a weakness that Satan will explore and deeply so.
In context, sleep here refers to not doing what ought to be done as and when due, it means being carefree or careless about important issues of life, especially spiritual assignment. It could also mean resting on one’s oars after taking stock of what the one has achieved, thereby blinding the one to the many more grounds to be taken – for example in Joshua 12, the man of God looked at all he had achieved and thought, well I have done brilliantly, however in Chapter 13:1, God was unequivocal in
calling him out.
“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed”.
In summary, Joshua had been sleeping on duty. The danger of taking a rest before achievement of set objectives is a likely fall into error, probable rejection or untimely end (1Kings 13:1-24).
Sleeping on duty can also mean being lazy and unproductive despite huge investment in such life, failing to carry out assigned tasks as should be (the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9). Wha t have you made of the Saviour’s investment in your life?
Paul the Apostle is an example of a profitable investment, a man who would not allow his past successes in ministry becloud his sense of passion, enthusiasm and zeal , a very alert individual who was focused on the next phase rather than gloat in any achievement (Phil.3:7-8). The moment a Christian begins to enjoy the company of unbelievers, fails to see what is wrong in covering up sins and excusing sins/unrighteousness, he is sleeping on duty, and it is only a matter of time that the camp of
Satan will take full control of such a life.
Pro.6:10-11
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest”—
So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless]”.
If you are casual about your salvation and the great commission, you are sleeping on duty, it is time you arose and get to serious work, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Arise from your sleep now.