Week 44: October 30, 2016

Topic: Laziness and Idleness – Part 3

Bible Reading: Proverbs 26: 9-16

This study will continue with focus on the ways to conquer laziness.

How to Overcome Laziness

Some of the ways to overcome laziness and idleness are stated below:

Abstain from oversleeping: As previously discussed, people who want to overcome laziness must not love sleeping or sleep deeply, but they must sleep modestly. Excessive sleeping is a type of sleeping disorder medically called hypersomnia, and it is a medical case/situation that needs immediate attention.

God through His infinite wisdom knew the danger of oversleeping and He warned us in the Bible saying “give no unnecessary sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids” Proverbs 6: 4. I pray that you will not ruin your life through prolong sleep and napping.

Too much of every carnal thing is bad. It is for this reason that the Scripture confirmed that “the drunkards and gluttons are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes people in rags Proverbs 23: 21.

Pray against the spirit of stupor: Let your conduct be according to the teachings of the Bible and pray against the spirit of stupor (deep sleep) that Almighty God usually use to punish the disobedient people. Just as it is written that “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day” Romans 11: 8, Isaiah 29: 10. It is your duty to pray against the spirit of apathy and dull mind so that you will not lose your spiritual gifts.

Be at alert: In order to eliminate laziness from your life you must be alert and take steps of faith for the Deliverance of your soul. Do not procrastinate because it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed Romans 13: 11. You have to do everything within your capability to save your life from laziness and your soul from destruction.

Be sober and watchful: Since the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will be like a thief in the night and nobody knows the day that the Lord will visit him/her to answer their petitions/prayers. Then it is forbidden for us to fall asleep spiritually like other people in the world, but be on our guard. Therefore be sober and watchful for the return of our Lord 1 Thessalonians 5: 6. If one is over sleeping physically it is bad but when your sleep spiritually it is worse. So do not sleep spiritually but be sober and watchful in order to be counted worthy when Christ our Lord returns.

Do not be sluggish: People who are serious about overcoming their laziness must not be sluggish but agile, so that they will imitate those people who through their faith and patience inherit the promises of God Hebrews 6: 12. Follow the example of people who inherit the promises of God through their faith and perseverance. So that you will inherit the biblical promises of God and leave a good legacy for your descendants.

Serve the Lord passionately: The best way to discard laziness is to serve the Lord passionately without lagging in diligence and be fervent in spirit. If you want the assistance of the Lord to overcome laziness then you have to be zealous without negligence for the work of God, keep the fire of the spirit burning and use all your energy to serve the Lord Romans 12: 11. If you want the Lord to turn laziness to history in your life, serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Outcome of Laziness and Idleness

Some of the consequences of laziness and idleness shall be discussed.

Laziness ruin people’s lives: The desire of a lazy man will lead to his death because his hands refuse to work. The craving of the lazy person is fatal, for the lazy hands refuse to labour Proverbs 21: 25. I pray that laziness will not ruin your life and you will not die of hunger.

Laziness leads to poverty: Anyone who works with a slack hand and those who are idle at work will be poor, while the hand of the diligent will make them rich. I want people to acknowledge that it is laziness that brings poverty, lazy hands will make you poor and a lazy person will end up poor Proverbs 10: 4. No matter how long it takes, lazy people will certainly become poor unless they turn a new leaf.

Lazy people will be subordinates: The lazy people will always serve their mates and they will be subordinates to their peers because of laziness. The Bible stated that “the hand of the diligent will rule but the lazy man will be put to forced labour” Proverbs 12: 24. The Lord that we are worshipping will make us to be among the leaders of Christendom

Laziness is not profitable: There is profit in hard work, but idleness leads to penury. It means if you work you will earn a living, but if you sit around talking you will become poor. Therefore in all labour there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty Proverbs 14: 23. Work brings profit, hard work always pays off but more talk puts no bread on the table, instead it leads to penury.

Laziness will endanger your home: The home of any lazy person is at risk of decay, whereby morality, vigor, and their spiritual life will decline in quality. In addition, through idleness of hands their home will leak, which means they will lose precious and priceless gifts of the Lord Ecclesiastes 10: 18.

Beware of Idleness

Since laziness and idleness go hand in hand you have to beware so that you will not be idle. Get yourself busy at all times with fruitful/productive things that can improve your life and your relationship with your Creator.

Paul sounded the warning in his epistle to the Thessalonians that they should stay away from any brother/sister who is leading a life of idleness or walking in idleness and not in accordance with the tradition received from him 2 Thessalonians 3: 6. Brothers and sisters, keep away from all the so-called believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the doctrines of the Bible. Most especially, those who are slack in the performance of their duties, plus those who avoid, neglect or evade their responsibilities.

The Seal: Revelation 3: 19:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous for the work of the Lord and repent.