The Lamentable Legacy of Laziness

by

While laziness seems to be an accepted cultural disposition, it significantly lessens an individual’s overall opportunities. God’s Word highlights both the blessings and the benefits of hard work.

Excuses

  • When you blame laziness on your personality, you covertly attempt to blame God for your lack of effort.
  • Laziness is not a disease or a dysfunction but a decision.
  • Laziness leads to a financial mess and a tarnished legacy.
  • Your personal diligence is related to the glory of God and the good of others.

Examples

Prov. 6:6-11

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
    officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
    and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.

  • It is a tragedy when an ant shows greater wisdom than a child of God (6:5).
  • The believer shouldn’t require a micromanaging boss to lead a productive life (6:7).
  • Diligent work provides for your needs today and prepares for your needs tomorrow (6:8).
  • We abuse God’s gift of sleep when we require an excess to escape reality or responsibility (6:9-10).
  • No matter how many handouts a person receives, laziness will eventually catch up at the worst possible time (6:11).

Efforts

  • Stop complaining about your situation, and start working harder to get out of it.
  • Stop allowing yourself to burden others, and start striving to be a blessing to those in legitimate need.
  • Stop expecting others to give a handout, and start positioning yourself to offer a hand-up.
  • Stop wasting the time God has given you, and start redeeming the days you have left.
  • Stop ignoring your financial reality, and start gradually addressing your current and future needs.

We were redeemed without any good works so that we could be a people zealous for good works (cf. Titus 2:14).

Extra Study – Read these helpful verses regarding laziness: Proverbs 10:4-5; 12:11, 24; 13:4, 11; 14:23; 19:15; 20:4,13; 21:5; 24:33-34; 26:15; 28:19; Eph. 5:15-17; Col. 3:17, 23; Ecc. 9:10; 1 Tim. 5:8; Gen. 2:15; Luke 16:10; 2 Thess. 3:6-10