Week 43: October 23, 2016

Topic: Laziness and Idleness – Part 2

Bible Reading: Proverbs 26: 9-16

This study will continue with the resemblance/similarities between laziness and immorality.

Similarity Between Laziness and Vices

There are several similarities and links between laziness and vices, therefore do not allow idleness to ruin your life.

The lazy path is overgrown with thorns: The way of every lazy man is crooked and lazy person’s life is as difficult as walking through a patch of thorns. The Bible confirmed this statement by stating that “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway Proverbs 15: 19. If you don’t want to live a miserable and difficult life then do not be lazy. Abstain from laziness if you don’t want your spiritual way to be like a hedge of thorns that will prick, lacerate and entangle you.

Laziness always translates into failure: Laziness is unproductive and lazy people cannot endure which makes them to miss/lose opportunities that come their way. To every lazy person, basic necessity of life is a burden and they will look for somebody to carry it for them. Whatever they start they don’t usually finish it before they quit, forgetting that “quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit”. It is for this reason that the Book of Proverbs says, “The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth” Proverbs 26:15; 19: 24. If you don’t want to fail to accomplish the good things that your peers achieve with ease, then do not be lazy but endure.

Lazy people cannot endure, they can start a project but in most cases they won’t finish it. That is why it is difficult for them to succeed in their undertakings. The Scripture stated that “the lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is a man’s precious possession Proverbs 12: 27. Therefore if you want to be successful in life be industrious and hardworking, have or show care and conscientiousness in your job or duty.

Laziness causes pains and agony: Any lazy person is the architect of his/her situation and they are the enemies of themselves. They always think that they are smarter than others and will certainly get away without performing their own quota/part of the work. The Bible says “as vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is lazy man to those who send him”. If you don’t want to cause untold pains for yourself and irritate your employer, please do not be lazy Proverbs 10: 26. If you don’t want to cause grief to Almighty God that sent you on an errand to the world, do not be lazy.

Laziness ruins lives: Laziness is one of the weapons that Satan is using against mankind; it is potent enough that it can vandalize one’s life if you are not careful. The Scripture described people who are slothful in their work as a brother to him who is a great destroyer. It means laziness and destruction are inseparable because they are permanently linked together Proverbs 18: 9. If you don’t want to cause havoc in your life and ruin your future, do not exhibit laziness or slackness towards the work of the Lord.

How to Identify Lazy People

There are several traits that can help us to identify the lazy people and we shall discuss some of them in biblical context.

People who have job opportunities, but will not work: Unemployment is prevalent all over the world, however in certain countries lazy people will have employment opportunities, but they will never utilize it. Even when it is advertised that there are job openings in certain companies/institutions, lazy people will neither apply for the job nor search for other jobs but they prefer to beg for food or apply for welfare benefits. In Yoruba-land they call them “arise mase baba ole”. Meaning, “he who finds job but prefer not to work”. Lazy people will have excuses not to work, they will not plow because of the weather conditions; and invariably they shall beg for food because they will have nothing to eat Proverbs 20: 4. If you don’t seize any employment opportunity that comes your way, then it will be difficult for you to cater for your needs.

Lazy people desire to have, but lack: Lazy people always have strong desire but they always end up with little or nothing due to their inactivity. The appetites of the lazy people crave for good things of life but get nothing. In a nut shell, a lazy person will not get what he wants unless through deceit, while the soul of the diligent will be richly supplied and satisfied Proverbs 13: 4. Be among the hard-working people so that you will be satisfied with good things of life.

People who love excessive sleeping: Anybody who loves to sleep excessively is a lazy person; those people who don’t like to move out of bed are very lazy. The Bible stated that “as a door swings on its hinges, so does the lazy person turns over in bed” Proverbs 26: 14. Every human needs to sleep and rest in order to function properly but do it moderately. Do not love sleep so that it will not lead to laziness.

At this end time, it is only lazy people that sleep deeply. When this happens they will put their life and other people’s lives at risk. For instance if there is a fire outbreak, or any other disaster, it will be difficult if not impossible to wake them from their sleep and such lazy people may perish in the incident. Idle people are lazy because there are many productive things that can be done instead of idleness Proverbs 19: 15. Henceforth learn how to sleep lightly and do not be idle anymore so that you will neither be counted as a lazy person nor suffer hunger during your lifetime.

Lazy people think they are wiser: Because lazy people usually use other people through deceit and exploitation to achieve their aim or goal; they always think they are wiser than hard-working people. Most lazy people will say”I am smarter than everyone else”, let me tell them they are not smarter but shirker. It is written that “the lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly Proverbs 26: 16. The lazy people are not smart, but lazybones who dodge their duties or responsibilities.

Lazy people are filthy and untidy: A simple way to identify the lazy people is through the inspection of their homes because they will be dirty and messy. In exceptional cases, some hardworking peoples’ homes might be disorganized because they are overwhelmed, but majority of their homes are clean and organized.

In some cases when you get to the offices of lazy people you will notice that it is untidy and everything will be muddled up. Even the appearance of lazy people will not be neat or be in order; instead they will look scruffy, disheveled and unkempt Proverbs 24: 30-31. If you want to prove to the world that you are not among the lazybones and you have common sense then keep your home, your office and your appearance clean and organized.

Lazy people will raise false alarm: Anyone who raises false alarm so that he will not work is a lazy person. It is prevalent among the lazy people to “cry wolf” in order to avoid working and discourage others from working Proverbs 22: 13, 26: 13. Do not be afraid where you are not suppose to entertain any fear because you have not received the spirit of fear, but the spirit of boldness from the Lord.