Laziness

Laziness

Do you like to be called lazy? Of course not. Who would? But would you believe that

the Holy word of God calls somebody lazy? Well, it does.

So let’s start with pointing our fingers to someone who was described in the Bible as

lazy - this is the safe start.

Titus 1,12-13 : "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony

is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they mey be sound in the faith."

Paul was edmonishing some people in the island of Crete, were he left Titus to look

after the Christian churches there. Those people were, as Paul put it "insubordinate,

both idle talkers and deceivers..." (1,10)

According to this Scripture, laziness is firstly described as rebellion - those idle talkers

were called "insubordinate", secondly they were called deceivers. Very strong words for

those that were ready to talk a lot but did really nothing worthwile for the church of

Jesus Christ, but trouble and divissions. Sounds familiar?

Where does the laziness come from? From the love; love of flesh. Not from the

Spirit. He gives us rest not to be lazy to be free from the things that have no value, no

meaning, to be able to do more for Him, for His kingdom; the things that will be our

heavenly treasures.

Mtt 25,26 - Jesus’ parable about the servants with talents.

To the one who was given one talent but did nothing, only hid it in the ground, Jesus

said: "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown,

and gather where I have not scattered seed..."

Lazy servant is called wicked - Revelation says that the wicked will be thrown into the

lake of fire, e.g. eternal separation from God. So it is not just a question of WELL-I-

JUST-DO-NOT-FEEL-LIKE-DOING-ANYTHING...

It is a matter of being in or out. When Jesus said: "Follow me" - He did not envite the

12 for a picnic but it was a job asignement; or we might say He was actualy enlisting

them into the army And it was even more than full time job. It was 24 hour service life-

time calling. New Testament calls all of us the disciples of Jesus Christ. We are called

into the life time service, not life time sitting-doing-nothing Christianity.

Let’ s have a look into the Old Testament, what does it say about laziness. Laziness is

unnatural state and it brings destruction:

The book of Proverbs is of course the richest source of verses about laziness.

Proverbs 6,6: "Go to ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways (hm, I did not know the

ant is a woman) - and be wise. Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler provides

her supplies in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you

slumber, o sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little

slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you

like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

13,4: "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the dilligent

shall be made rich."

15,19: "The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the

upright is a highway."

21,25: "The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labour."

24,30: "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid

of understanding; and there it was overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered

with nettles. Its stone wall was broken down."

Ecclesiastes 10,18: "Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness

of hands the house leaks."

In the Bible church is often called the house of God, or is portrayed as the building and

we are the living stones; we are part of this structure. But because of laziness the house

of God decays. Even in this spiritual structure, the body of Christ, there is a need for

constant maintenance, constant repairs, constant care of all of its parts, its sides - from

inside as well as from the outside.

1 Peter 2:5says: "You also, like living stones, are being built into spiritual house to

be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus

Christ."

Idle hands will cause the house to leak.

It reminds me of Tony Campollo (I think it was him, who said it). People often pray:

"Oh, God, we need your help, we need your power. Oh, dear Lord, please fill us with

your power because without you we cannot do much, we cannot do anything. Oh, please

fill us with your Holy Spirit... Fill us, Lord, oh fill us Holy Ghost...."