![]() ![]() “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Free from sickness, sorrow, and sin-even laziness-the saints will glorify the Lord forever. Even in heaven, Christians’ service to God will continue, although no longer encumbered by the curse (Revelation 22:3). To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:28-29). The apostle Paul is our example: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24) “God is not unjust he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10).Ĭhristians should labor in God’s strength to evangelize and disciple. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:34-35).Īs Christians, we know that our labors will be rewarded by our Lord if we persevere in diligence: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We are convicted of our need to provide for our families through our labors: “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8) and for others in the family of God: “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. Our old propensity toward laziness-and all other sin-has been replaced by a desire to live godly lives: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). In our new nature, we are motivated to diligence and productiveness out of a love for our Savior who redeemed us. The Lord, however, empowers Christians to overcome the flesh’s propensity to laziness by giving us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Slothfulness violates God’s purpose-good works. Christians are not saved by works, but they do show their faith by their works (James 2:18, 26). “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). ![]() But a believer can become idle if he erroneously believes God expects no fruit from a transformed life. A new believer is truthfully taught that “…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). ![]() There is no room for laziness in the life of a Christian. Proverbs also tells us the end in store for the lazy: A lazy person becomes a servant (or debtor): “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (12:24) his future is bleak: “A sluggard does not plow in season so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (20:4) he may come to poverty: “The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (13:4 KJV). Proverbs tells us that a lazy person hates work: “The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work” (21:25) he loves sleep: “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (26:14) he gives excuses: “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets’” (26:13) he wastes time and energy: “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great waster” (18:9 KJV) he believes he is wise, but is a fool: “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly” (26:16). Proverbs is especially filled with wisdom concerning laziness and warnings to the lazy person. The Bible has a great deal to say about laziness. “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6). But the Bible is clear that, because the Lord ordained work for man, laziness is sin. ![]() Laziness, a lifestyle for some, is a temptation for all. While some are naturally driven to complete projects, others are apathetic, requiring motivation to overcome inertia. Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object at rest tends to remain at rest. ![]()
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