Over the past six months I have had several Bible studies with a gentleman here in Butler who takes many Scriptures and twists them to justify his sinful life.  Recently I saw this fellow at a local pizza buffet while out with my family.  He approached and wanted me to meet him later that day for a very important discussion.  Several hours later I met him at the building the church assembles within.  We began our “Bible discussion” with him wanting to know how he could explain that God does not want him working more than twelve hours per week.  He tried to argue his position by appealing to the Old Law wherein the Lord commanded the seventh day to be a day of rest (Exodus 29:9-11).  I was quick to point out that the Old Law has been done away with in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 26:28, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 2:11-17, Colossians 2:14, and Hebrews 1:1-2).  The law and the prophets were until John (Luke 16:16).  Jesus showed that He was Lord, even over the Sabbath, when He and the disciples labored on the Sabbath Day (Matthew 12:1-8).  This man’s ears were deaf to the Scriptures.

     When someone wants to do something regardless of what the Scriptures teach, they will do it.  Some, like this fellow, try to justify their actions by twisting the Scriptures.  Such is what Peter wrote of: (II Peter 3:16) “…which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”  In this case, a man wants to justify laziness.  He wants to argue from one Scripture and when that fails his twisting continues.  He went from trying to justify his laziness from the Old, which we will later establish certainly does not allow for laziness, to arguing that God miraculously removes him from work.  He said he had been called by God and that God had limited him from working secularly so that he can study and learn to lead others spiritually.  One is called through the Gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14).  That calling applies to all who have been converted to Christ through obedience to the Gospel.  Furthermore, God does not work in the lives of men miraculously today.  Miracles were to confirm the word (Mark 16:20), and such ceased when the word was fully revealed (I Corinthians 13:8-10).  The word of God does not permit men to be lazy, receive government assistance in His name, and not work to support ones self.

     Notice a few Scriptures that establish the clear Biblical fact that laziness [slothfulness] is sinful: (Proverbs 18:9) “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”  (Proverbs 21:25) “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”  (Proverbs 24:30-34) “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.  Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”  (Matthew 25:26-30) “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

     One who chooses to be lazy is violating the word of God.  However, those who are lazy do not openly admit such.  When those individuals are shown through the word of God that they are wrong they then adjust their positions.  For example, the gentleman that I studied with says that he is not just being lazy.  He argues that God does not want him to have any material blessings.  He says his calling is to be poor in this life.  He argues that God has given him the H.U.D. program for housing and governmental assistance to aid him so that he does not have to work.  Is such a story consistent with the word of God?

    (II Thessalonians 3:10-14) “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.   But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”  God’s plan for man being cared for is man working for those things he needs and wants.  If a Christian were to be lazy and not work, that individual was to be disciplined.  Adam had to keep the garden, his children had to care for crops and animals, and we must work with what God supplies to provide for our needs.  Some believe that social welfare programs are the answer.  They believe that God supplied these programs so that they would not have to hold secular jobs.  This is not what the Scriptures teach.

     My study with the aforementioned gentleman had him trying to argue from all areas within Scripture.  At times the Scriptures he used proved his position false.  For example, his first argument that God wants man to rest show that six out of seven days in the Old Testament had men working: (Exodus 20:9) “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.”  Six days of work instead of a few hours three days a week was God’s plan in the Old Testament.  In the New Testament slaves would not be permitted to forsake their work using their liberty in Christ as a cover to remove their responsibilities to their masters.  Notice what Paul wrote: (Ephesians 6:5-8) “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

     Paul, when addressing the brethren in Thessalonica, instructed them to work.  He instructed them to work with their own hands.  (I Thessalonians 4:11-12) “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”  Why would anyone who desires to please God reject such clear instruction?  A person who rejects such clear instruction through the word of God is seeking to please themselves, not the Lord.

     Though a man or woman who needs to care for themselves ought to work, that does not mean that work should be the first thing in their lives.  God must always be the first thing in the life of a Christian (Matthew 22:37).  When one begins to work too much to gain more in this life they are being covetous.  Such covetousness at that point becomes idolatry (Colossians 3:5).  As Jesus said: (Matthew 6:24) “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  At some point putting work so highly in life will cause it to compete with God.  In that case one or the other will suffer.  A Christian realizes how to balance these things and still allow time for study (John 5:39), time with fellow saints (Acts 2:46), assembling with brethren (Hebrews 10:25), etc.

     Putting God first includes being a good worker in the secular world.  An employer should be shown that a Christian works harder than anyone else.  A Christian can be trusted and this is something the world has too little of.  Work is not a necessary evil.  Work is a good thing if properly focused upon.

     In conclusion, we need to look at working and earning a wage as a blessing by God.  When we give of our means on the first day of the week we are giving as God has prospered us (I Corinthians 16:2).  The Lord has given us all we need to earn a living and provide for our families.  Let us be thankful and content with those blessings which the Lord has provided.