Our society certainly has become an “elevator society”.  We want to push buttons and get to
our destinations without any effort being made by us.  No one wants to take the “hard way” at
all.  Grocery stores have motorized chairs with baskets attached (which are meant for
handicapped individuals) that lazy people often use.  Fast food, fast service, and delivery
options are popular.  Brethren, it is easy to become physically lazy in our society.  Some lazy
people truly do need to go to the ant and consider her ways (Proverbs 6:6-11).

     Sometimes cultural and societal practices influence our spiritual lives negatively.  We know
the warnings against the power of ungodly influences in our lives (I Corinthians 15:33 and I
Thessalonians 5:22).  Look around you sometime and see how much laziness is promoted.  If
we allow ourselves to always think about the fast and easy ways, we’ll soon start thinking about
spiritual matters in a like manner.

     When we look at our brethren around about us, we can see the influence our lazy culture
has on their spiritual lives.  For example, I notice how many “preachers” use the internet to find
their sermon outlines, rather than their personal studies.  I always see an increase of hits on my
website on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  When I look to see where the increases are taking
place, it is often in the sermon outline section of my website.  Paul did not instruct Timothy to,
“surf the web and find a suitable outline to preach Sunday morning”.  Paul, by inspiration,
instructed Timothy saying: “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery.  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:13-16).  
Preachers are the easy targets on these matters.  What about everyone else too?


     Every Christian does not need to have a sermon outline prepared for Sunday morning.  
Every Christian does not have to prepare to lead a Bible discussion.  So, some Christians look
at sermons and other instruction times as their time of study for the week.  Yes, it happens all
too often.  It may still be occurring here at Sunrise, though it is not apparent.  Preachers are
easy targets to nail if they are not studying, for it shows in their lessons.  Others are not so easy
to realize.  Some of the best students of the Scriptures do not speak up in public studies.  Yet,
some of the weakest students of the Scriptures often do speak up.  Therefore, we have a hard
time knowing who is and who is not spending time in studying the word of God diligently as we
ought to (II Timothy 2:15).  We cannot grow if we do not have a desire to learn the word of God
(I Peter 2:1-2 and II Peter 3:18).  We cannot expect others to do our studying for us.  
Remember, each of us will stand independently before our Lord on the Judgment Day (II
Corinthians 5:10).  You have to be equipped to answer for yourself on the Judgment Day
(Romans 14:11-12) and presently before those whom ask of your faith now (I Peter 3:15)!

     Studying is not the only spiritual point of laziness for some Christians.  Consider the work of
hospitality.  Some brethren want to take the elevator on this point and think that they’ve arrived
on the correct floor by greeting one another at the meeting facility.  This is not hospitality.  How
many people are too lazy to open up their homes to the brethren or even to go into the homes of
brethren?  The Lord commands such activity among brethren.  Notice: “Use hospitality one to
another without grudging” (I Peter 4:9).  Brethren, THIS IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS
IMPROVED UPON HERE!!!!  Whether or not you are capable of having Christians into your
home is one subject matter.  Yet, during many opportunities to be in the homes of others I have
seen some who will not go to enjoy the hospitality of our brethren.  Just as we are commanded
to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 11:23-26; cf. Acts 20:
7), preach and defend the truth (II Timothy 4:2 and Jude 3), worship aright (John 4:23-24 and
Colossians 2:18-23), etc.; we are instructed of God to spend time together in one another’s
homes (Romans 12:13 and Acts 2:46).  If it’s not laziness, what is it that is keeping you (if you
are of the fault) from spending this time with the brethren?  Gas prices are no excuse, for I and
others have offered to pick up anyone who wants to spend time with the brethren.  
Opportunities are not the excuse, for we have plenty of them.  What is it?  Whatever the
problem, we need to seek a resolution.  You have the opportunity today (3:00 at my house) to
spend time with the saints.  Will you?

     Some refuse to take the stairs when it comes to the work we need to do individually.  You
see, many have taken the elevator on this point too.  Some brethren, obviously a problem here
too, figure there is a preacher and some retired folks who’ll do the work.  Some of these things
are figured to be “works of the church” in a collective manner.  Well, this preacher will not fail in
doing the works of a preacher and a Christian as some of our retired folks will not fail either.  
However, that does not remove all of our responsibilities.  When it comes to spiritually restoring
the weak, this is the work for ALL OF US (Galatians 6:1 and James 5:19-20).  When it comes to
the work of looking after the widows and the sick, this is the work of everyone as individual
Christians (James 1:26-27 and Matthew 25:31-46).  There are little things you can do, of which
some improvements have been made (i.e. preparing the bread and fruit of the vine).  Look
around, there are things we all can do to help one another in our work for the Lord.


     Brethren, the elevator mindset will cause many to be lost.  You see, the elevator of spiritual
laziness only goes down.  Get out now before it is too late.  Join the few who have decided to
take the stairway.  We’re breathing hard from time to time because of the heavy burdens we
carry up this steep staircase.  Your help is greatly needed (Galatians 6:2).  “From whom the
whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XLII   ~   July 13th, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your
sins (Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the
church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47 and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful
(Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study:
brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
Sometimes You Have To Take The Stairs
By: Brian A. Yeager
The Desire Of Many Christians To Look For The Easier Ways
Conclusion