Overcoming Laziness: A Call to Spiritual Diligence

Devotional

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The book of Proverbs describes the lazy person as “the sluggard.” “The sluggard.” Not a very contemporary word, but quite a good word. It is defined by the dictionary as one who is habitually lazy or habitually inactive. They have determined a lifestyle that is framed essentially by indolence and by inactivity. [00:02:48]

He never actually refuses to do anything; he just puts it off bit by bit. He deceives himself into thinking that he will get round to it. But by minutes, small increments of time—by minutes and by inches—this individual, he or she, allows opportunity just to slip away. [00:06:42]

The individual who has no mind to work—the individual who doesn’t want to work—never lacks for excuses for their idleness. If inside of them they have no desire to engage in endeavor… And incidentally, in the New Testament, Paul says in 1 Thessalonians that part of the responsibility of the pastor is to warn the idle. [00:08:22]

The lazy person will always be hungry for fulfillment. His cravings will always be unfulfilled. “The desire,” says Solomon—21:25—“The desire of the sluggard kills him,” because “his hands refuse to labor.” He knows that he would love to have that, he knows what’s involved in getting there, but he doesn’t want to do it. [00:14:46]

The real issue about this, and the real tragedy of the man’s house, is that laziness is not an infirmity. Laziness is a sin. God made us to work. Indeed, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh … is a Sabbath to the LORD.” [00:23:00]

Laziness is a sin. It affects the whole of our manhood and womanhood. It has an unperceived power. It needs to be rooted out. As parents, we have a great responsibility in this. And in a totally leisure-consumed society, the challenge for us is to breed children that are known for the quality of their work. [00:25:43]

Some of us this morning would say that we know Christ and we follow after him, and therefore, it is legitimate for us to ask if there is any sense in which laziness is intruding into our walk with Christ: How am I doing in the things of God? How am I doing in my personal devotional life? [00:27:11]

And what about our relationships within our homes? What about our commitment to our marriages? What about diligence in relationship to that? Has laziness crept in? If people came and examined our marriages, do they see the flowers in place? Do they see that it is weeded, that it is cared for? [00:29:36]

And in the work of the Lord, when I’m asked to take part, do I take part? Or do I just put things off bit by bit? “If you could call me a week on Friday, I’ll be back then.” And really, inside we’re saying, “I hope you never call me again in my life. I don’t want to hear about this.” [00:31:26]

Now, let me ask you: Have you applied the same level of diligence to the preparation for that appointment as you have applied in your life to securing your family’s future, etc.? And if not, why wouldn’t you? You’re a sensible man. “Well, I’ll get around to it, I suppose. I will finally get there.” [00:36:44]

What would it profit a man if he was the most diligent man in the business, and his diligence was such that he gained the whole world, and his laziness in spiritual things was such that he lost his own soul? [00:37:59]

No matter who your mom and your dad is, no matter what they’ve been to you, what they’ve done for you, how they’ve nurtured you and cared for you, there has to come a day in your journey where you say, “Lord Jesus Christ, I am lazy about these things. I can get up at 4:00 a.m. to play ball.” [00:38:30]

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