Laziness Vs Diligence Series

a. Proverbs 20:13; 24:30-34; 26:14;31:15

2. Do the hard jobs first and easier job’s second; then you can have fun.

a. Proverbs 22:29; 21:20; 24:27

b. But people just want to have fun and not get their work done. According to Proverbs this leads us down the path to ruin and poverty.

d. Scriptures from Proverbs which emphasize my point!

i. Proverbs 10:5: 5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

ii. Proverbs 15:19: 19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

iii. Proverbs 22:13: 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!”

iv. Proverbs 26:13: 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

v. Proverbs 26:16: 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

e. To win the battle over a lazy apathetic mindset takes effort and a renewed mind.

i. Roman 12:2: 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1. There is Proverbs point again renew the mind with God and His Word and then you will be able to teat – evaluate how to use knowledge rightly and correctly in your life so as to please God and not look like a fool.

T.S. – We see that we must renew our mindset with God and His Word so as to root out the mindset of laziness and apathy. We need to root this disease out of our physical life as well.

II. The physical battle between laziness and diligence

a. Scripture Text:

i. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

1. The point is clear from Scripture that this temple you are looking – look at your hand – look at your neighbor – careful now - at is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we need to take care of them!

a. Action point with audience!

2. I know I am meddling – you may be thinking stick to spiritual things and stay out of this department of my life –I know that I am not Mr. Universe or fit as a fiddle – I know it would be better for all of us to avoid this subject but I feel like we have to hear this truth too.

a. Reality check: I need to preach at myself here so bear with me!

ii. Remember Laziness is a disinclination to activity or exertion despite having the ability to do so.

1. Here are some other words to describe it: Apathy – laziness –sloth – sluggards – idleness also applies to us in the physical realm of life.

iii. What does Paul mean to honor God with our bodies?

1. It means we protect our bodies from harm!

a. We have to intentional about this!

2. Hybel’s states, “Honoring God is about exercising, not compulsively or in an unhealthy response to cultural norms of attractiveness but in order to enhance energy and longevity. It is also about eating the proper amounts of natural, nutritious foods” (Page 44).