What does Proverbs 10:5 mean?

This continues the theme of work ethic, begun in the prior verse (Proverbs 10:4). An old-fashioned English expression delivers a similar message: "make hay while the sun shines." A diligent person works when and how they can; the lazy person misses even the obvious opportunities to get ahead. When harvesttime is over, is it too late to collect crops. Sensible children tend to make their parents proud, parents of shiftless or selfish children are often ashamed. Laziness fails those children and leads them into a bad reputation.

Christians ought to diligently serve God in harvesting souls. When Jesus' disciples returned with food from a Samaritan village and offered Jesus something to eat, He replied that His food was to do the will of God (John 4:34). At that time, men in traditional white robes were streaming from the village to see Jesus. Jesus told His disciples: "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest" (John 4:35). Today is the day for harvesting souls. Tomorrow may be too late!