Understanding Laziness

Saturday May 13, 2023

Gratitude

Many years ago a list was prepared of seven things that are death to living a good life. Right in the middle of the list is laziness, or in the language used in those days, being slothful.

A lazy person is simply someone who is unwilling to work or use energy to get something done. There is a lack of energy and activity given to a set task because the lazy person really doesn’t care about the task or when it gets done. The Bible uses a stark picture to help us understand laziness.

Some people are too lazy to take care of themselves. They will not even lift the food from their plate to their mouth. (Proverbs 19:24 ERV)

Each of us was created to do good work and giving an honest effort will bring us satisfaction. When we are too lazy to bother, our world becomes confusing, we feel less and less able to cope, and our ability to do so declines.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15 NIV)

We are instructed to do the best we can with what we have been given. We don’t have to appear to be more than we are, but we are responsible to give a task all that we’ve got.

God’s promise to us is that when we serve others in the best way we can, we will find ourselves receiving back much more than we ever gave out. This isn’t just limited to doing jobs but has to do with making space for others in our lives, even when they are strugglers who have attitudes and practices that irritate us.

Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. (Colossians 3:23 MSG)

Prayer: Loving God, You created me to bless and take care of Your creation. Forgive me for the many times it seemed too much for me to even bother about what needed doing. Help me to mature and become a person useful in Your service and to work from an overflowing heart of gratitude for all You have done for me. Amen

More information

Understanding Laziness

Audio for Understanding Laziness

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