I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34)

The Hobo, The Tramp, And The Bum

Following the American Civil War, many men were displaced, with few jobs and no prospects for a steady workplace. At the same time, the surge of railroads filled the landscape of America with 35,000 miles of new track. With the ease of travel through hopping trains, many men set out to do migrant work. When the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, the number of men traveling swelled. The men became known as “hobos,” traveling across the country and catching trains, seeking a livelihood anywhere they could find it. Hundreds of thousands of people, families, and young people were riding freight trains, hoping not to get caught by railroad security – the “bulls.”

There is a distinction between a hobo, a tramp, and a bum. A hobo is considered a migrant worker in modern idioms. He (or she) travels and is willing to work. The mode of transportation is optional, depending on what is available. A tramp is someone who travels but avoids work if possible. The bum neither travels nor works. Common to the tramp is the refusal to work, with the bum being so lazy he will not make the effort to travel for any reason.

The first thing God gave Adam and Eve was a job. He expected them to tend the garden. After the fall of man, the Lord told Adam that by the sweat of his brow he would labor to bring forth the herb of the field. It would not be easy to bring bread home to the table. Work has always been how man glorifies God and fulfills his role to care for the family. Lazy and slothful people have been around since the beginning of time. Solomon wrote much about the honor of labor and exposed the character of the tramp and the bum.

As Solomon was walking by a field, he noticed it was overgrown with thorns and its surface covered with nettles. The stone wall was broken down. Thorns and weeds were everywhere. No work had been done to keep the field, and no activity to maintain what was needed. It was the field belonging to a lazy man. The wise man noted this field was in such disarray because a lazy fool lived there. Solomon perceived the field was a story about the danger of indolence. A man will think what harm there is in a little more sleep. Why do today what can be put off until tomorrow? Take the easy path, relax, and fiddle the thumbs. Working the ground takes so much energy, and why bother?

Poverty comes upon those who are lazy and unwilling to work. Solomon likens the suddenness of poverty to a thief in the night or an armed robber. The lazy man will never see it coming until it is too late. Because he refuses to work, he finds himself in poverty. The apostle Paul would chide the saints at Thessalonica for those who refused to work but were busybodies. God says this is a disorderly and sinful life. Loafing around and refusing to work disgraces Christ’s name. Everyone has a responsibility to show the glory of God through their industry.

One thing can be said about the hobo: he was willing to work. God refuses to bless the tramp and the bum. There are spiritual tramps and bums who refuse to do anything for the Lord. Whether physical or spiritual, God expects His people to be industrious. Work is honorable and expected by the Lord. Did I hear a train whistle?