Our culture is one that promotes laziness. For example, most of us would not consider purchasing a television if it did not come with a remote control. You can find remote controls for almost everything in your home now. You can even turn on and off the lights with a remote control. With our automobiles we have become lazy. Instead of walking a block to get the mail, it’s easy to just drive down there. I would assume, to some degree, we all like to be lazy. There are times when we deserve to be. However, laziness can become a disease. We can all get to a point when it seems like we have to be forced to lift a finger to do almost anything. Through inspiration, Solomon penned the following: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 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” (Proverbs 6:6-11). Have you ever watched ants? They can make you tired just by watching them. Do you know what a sluggard is? A sluggard is a habitually lazy person. Those who, by way of normal practice, are lazy need to consider the ant and learn to be wise from what they see. If we are lazy folks we’ll always find a reason not to do something. Again, Solomon wrote: “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing” (Proverbs 20:4). Why would the Lord command that those Christians in Thessalonica who would not work should not eat either (II Thessalonians 3:10)? Why would the brethren be prevented from feeding a brother or sister in Christ? Folks, if we can do nothing and get something in return, we will soon find ways to do less. Who would ever work if they could get the same income by sitting and doing nothing? Paul, when addressing the brethren in Thessalonica, instructed them to work. He instructed them to work with their own hands: “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” (I Thessalonians 4:11-12). As we learned in Solomon’s words about considering the ant, if we don’t labor poverty is sure to come. Solomon didn’t make that point just once. Notice the following: “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster” (Proverbs 18:9). “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour” (Proverbs 21:25). “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” (Proverbs 24:30-34). Consider those words of wisdom. If we are lazy we’ll end up broke, hungry, naked, and eventually dead. Besides that, we’d be marked and withdrawn from for walking disorderly (II Thessalonians 3:6-15). “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). So, to be clear, when it comes to our spirituality; if we do nothing to grow we can expect that we will not grow. That’s an amazing realization isn’t it? Boy, who would’ve thought that if we do nothing to grow in the Lord that we’ll not get to where we need to be (II Peter 1:3-10; 3:18)? All sarcasm aside, we must realize if we do not pray (I Thessalonians 5:17), study (John 5:39), and apply what we’ve learned through our studies (I Corinthians 9:27, I Timothy 4:16, and James 1:21-25); we’re spiritually lazy. Yes, we might want to have Heaven as our eternal home. Yes, we might believe the truth when it’s taught. Yes, we might attend faithfully with the brethren when they assemble. Yet, if we do nothing ourselves we are just luggage on a cart that is towed by someone else. Why would we be too lazy to pick up our Bibles and learn more about the Lord and how to please Him? If we do not love the truth we are not going to be saved (II Thessalonians 2:10). Is it because we use our energy elsewhere and become too tired to learn more from God’s word? The Psalmist said something we should all be able to say: “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved” (Psalms 119:47). If we like coffee, donuts, chocolate, ice cream, or some other food; we find a way not to be too lazy and miss our treats. Why isn’t the word of God something we can sit in our lazy chairs and enjoy like the other things we might take pleasures in? We cannot get to the point where our Bibles are too heavy for us to pick up. We can only resolve laziness if we decide we want to accomplish something. If you want to be working for the Lord at all times, there is not time to be a lazy Christian (I Corinthians 15:58). Of course this article is not condemning taking a break. Time to rest has been given to man since the beginning of time (Genesis 2:2; cf. Exodus 20:9-10). Yet, maybe some Christians need a break from taking a break. On the other side of the coin, some become tired of doing the right things in life. We cannot be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). Inspiration says: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). If we are too lazy to work in the vineyard of the Lord, I suppose the Lord will not have to remember much about our good works when the Day of Judgment comes. Folks, what is our faith without works (James 2:14-26)? That’s right, dead is the answer. So, are you a worker or a spiritually walking corpse? |
| Volume VII ~ Issue XLVII ~ August 19th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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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).
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).
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| Go To the Ant By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| Laziness and Carnal Matters |
| Laziness and Spiritual Matters |
| Conclusion |