There is nothing quite as cute as a fuzzy koala … or as stupid.
Studies show that the koala’s brain is not only very small (less than 0.2% of its body mass) but it is smooth with hardly any folds. (Compare that to the walnut-looking human brain that weighs around three pounds!) Koalas sleep 20 out of 24 hours in a day. They don’t store fat on their bodies, so they have to conserve as much energy as possible.
Therefore, they stay in the treetops either eating or sleeping … a solitary life with little interaction with others. Who cares about trouble in the world when you’re only aware of it for a few minutes before falling back to sleep? The natural consequence of a koala’s lack of motion and small brain is they often fall out of trees!
Not so cute anymore. Neither is a human being who spends their days laying around eating and sleeping in true couch-potato or teenager style.
The Bible warns about the dangers of too much sleep. “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:9-11 NIV, See also Proverbs 24:33-34) “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.” (Proverbs 19:15 NIV) “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” (Proverbs 20:13 NIV) “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19 NIV, See also Proverbs 12:11)
Why the warnings? Because we were created for relationships and interacting with others. Made to work, tend the gardens, provide for our families, and build houses on firm foundations. To post watchmen on the walls to spot danger and rally together to defend against attacks.
And we can’t do any of that if we’re asleep.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)
Creation declares that we were made to do more than sleep. Doing nothing, like a koala, is dangerous.
What about you? What were you made to do? Have you ever had a lazy day and then felt the after-effects of a sluggish brain?