Laziness

Laziness

Read the following statements and see how many you can identify with.
“I don’t know why Mom insists that my room be cleaned every week. It’s my room and I like it just the way it is!”
“I’m tired and I don’t feel like helping with the dishes.”
“Me? Rake the yard. You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Do I have to do get up now? I’m watching my favorite show.”

 Does it really matter if I just don’t feel like doing anything? It’s in the Bible, "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."(2 Thessalonians 3:11-12, NIV).  An idle person is someone who enjoys pleasure and wants everyone else to do the work. A busybody is someone who is into other people’s business. God wants us to be responsible and make good use of our time doing profitable things. A famous quote by Thomas Taylor says, “Too many young people itch for what they want without scratching for it.” It is another way of saying that we should not expect everything we want to be given to us. Everyone who can, should work for what they need and want.

Does a Christian have to be hard-working? The Bible says, "Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done.’ Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work"(2 Timothy 2:15, TLB). God not only wants us to work hard, but do a good job of what we do. The wise King Solomon wrote, “Whatever you do, do well” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, TLB).

Are lazy people ever successful people? Good question. Solomon also said, "Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich. A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity" (Proverbs 10:4-5, TLB). Making hay while the sun shines is another way of saying that we should work while the opportunity is there. You can’t make hay (an important food for animals) in the rain. If a farmer puts off cutting the hay when it is ready, rain may come and destroy it. Once an opportunity is lost, it may be lost forever.  Paul wrote, “Don’t be fools; be wise; make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good” (Ephesians 5:16, TLB).

Does being lazy affect good judgment? Yes! It’s in the Bible, "The lazy man won’t go out and work. ‘There might be a lion outside!’ he says. He sticks to his bed like a door to its hinges! He is too tired even to lift his food from his dish to his mouth! Yet in his own opinion he is smarter than seven wise men" (Proverbs 26:13-16, TLB).

Here’s a serious lesson for the lazy, courtesy of an ant. If you have a problem of being lazy, look in Proverbs 6:6-11, TLB, for God’s lesson. "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy fellow. Learn from their ways and be wise! For though they have no king to make them work, yet they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you — all you do is sleep. When will you wake up? ‘Let me sleep a little longer!’ Sure, just a little more! And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor."  The great statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin added to this thought when he wrote, “Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.”

God can give you strength to be a good worker. Ask Him to give you a change of attitude. Get plenty of sleep so you will not be tired. Eat healthy foods so that your body will be strong. Drink plenty of water so you will not be sluggish. Exercise daily for energy and strong bones. Make a decision that you will apply yourself and do a good job with everything you do.  Then one day when Jesus returns He will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).