Series: Practical Proverbs
Thesis: The primary message of Proverbs is “Get wisdom or act and look like a fool!”
Sermon 1 & 2: Wise vs foolish
We learned that wisdom is God given not manmade but foolishness is manmade not God given. We learned that wisdom is given by God to us so that we use knowledge rightly and correctly and if we don’t have God then we don’t have wisdom and therefore we are unable to use knowledge correctly or rightly.
Sermon 3: Wickedness vs godliness
We need to be able to recognize and avoid wickedness in our lives and instead embrace godliness.
How are you doing reading through the book of Proverbs? How are you doing applying the spiritual truths of godly wisdom to your life? Are you using the wisdom that comes from God to use knowledge rightly? Or are you trusting in your own judgment of right and wrong and looking like a fool to the Kingdom of Heaven? Remember God wants us to be wise and the Devil wants us act and look like fool!
T.S. - This morning I have another great personal story to share with you about the importance of wisdom and the importance of having God be at the core of your life.
Video Illustration: The Story of Dr Ben Carlson of John Hopkins from the movie “Gifted Hands” (5 minutes)
Dr. Ben overcame adversity, injustice, prejudice and still changed the world of medicine and his own life.
Young Ben Carson didn’t have much of a chance. Growing up in a broken home amongst poverty and prejudice, his grades suffered and his temper flared. And yet, his mother never lost her faith in him. Insisting he follow the opportunities she never had, she helped grow his imagination, intelligence and his belief in himself and God. That belief, coupled with his faith in God, would drive him to follow his dream of becoming one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons.
Ben was taught by his mother at an early age that he was not to be a lazy boy, she told her boys they would have to read more, work hard at school, work hard at growing spiritually with the Lord. She told them that they could only watch 2 programs a week on Tv in the 50’s. The rest of their time was to be spent reading books, the Bible and working hard for the Lord. She told them that the Devils playground was idle minds or minds that became intoxicated with Tv and or a laziness toward their spiritual walk with the Lord.
As we continue our journey through Proverbs we see another comparison popping up in this book of wisdom. Have you seen it as you have been reading Proverbs every day? It is the battle between diligence and laziness in our life. Our fleshly tendency is to become lazy, or as some would say, “to be a slacker.” We all battle this to some degree in our lives. It could be in the physical fitness realm of life, or our spiritual life, or our intellect.
We live in a society today that has a lot of leisure time – if you compare our current time with past generations this becomes very obvious. We have a lot of couch potatoes in our society today. Obesity is on the rise in our nation most likely due to eating habits, tv and lack of exercise. But spiritual apathy is also on the rise in America.
Some would say that the worst thing you could with your life is to actively pursue wickedness, hatred and evil things. But doing things that don’t matter is nearly as bad. For example:
In Chicago, a woman jumps into the river and another woman asks for a man’s help. He responds that he would but he just bought his new suit and he does not want to ruin it.
In Dayton, Ohio, A dozen people see a woman drive her car into the Miami River. They watch idly as the woman climbs on the car’s roof and screams that she cannot swim. They all idly watch as the woman drowns right in front of their eyes.
Why Catherine Genovese died
On Friday 13 March in 1964, 28-year-old Catherine Genovese was arriving home in her built-up neighborhood from a late night shift as a bar manager in Queens, New York. She was suddenly attacked with a knife by a man named Winston Moseley. She screamed aloud “Oh my God, I've been stabbed! Please help me!” We know what she screamed because people heard her. People who didn't lift a finger to help. People who didn't want to 'get involved', who didn't EVEN call the police.
Moseley saw lights come on in the apartments nearby. He knew people were watching. He ran off, leaving Catherine to drag herself into a doorway where she lay bleeding - she could possibly have survived at this point. But her attacker decided to return to finish off what he'd started because, as he later said in court: "It didn't seem like anyone was going to stop me!" Although badly weakened by now, she again screamed for help. Of 38 witnesses who heard or saw some part of the attack (which took place over about half an hour in total), not one took action to help her. By the time the police were eventually called, she was dead.
Why did no one take action? Were they bad people? Or was it the nature of the situation - the context - that made them seem inhuman? It's not that they didn't care about what was happening, it's that they didn't act. No one picked up the phone to call for rescue for this woman (FROM http://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/articles/bystander-apathy.html).
We see laziness/apathy eroding away our society. We have a lot of issues facing our society today but one important issue which is addressed in Proverbs is laziness vs diligence. We have to choose to fight against the tendency to become lazy in all parts of our life. Jesus was addressing this subject when he shared the story of the Good Samaritan!
T.S. - Here are a few verses from Proverbs addressing our topic today:
Sermon 4: Lazy vs diligent
Scripture Texts:
Proverbs 6:6-11: 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 10:4-5: 4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Proverbs 12:24: 24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
Proverbs 13:4: 4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
Proverbs 21:5: 5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 30:24, 25: 24 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: 25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.
Introduction:
*Show the slides from the power point illustration laziness vs. diligence.
As I have read through Proverbs I see that we can become lazy in 3 primary areas of our life:
1. Mentally -The soul
2. Physically-The body
3. Spiritually- The spirit
Thesis: The writers of this ancient wisdom literature inspired by God try to convey the message to us of “Don’t be lazy be diligent!” In other words “Make a commitment to work hard at being all God wants you to be!”
T.S. - Here are some insights or practical principles you can use to motivate you to work hard and to avoid the trap of laziness.
I. The mindset of diligence vs laziness
a. Proverbs tells us that a life that works hard is a mindset that has chosen to work hard.
i. Working hard or being diligent takes a determined mindset or will. It does not just come naturally you have to train your mind to want to work hard. You have to focus on diligence!
1. Parents just so you know this starts at an early age and you help to shape this mindset in your children.
a. Like Dr. Ben’s mother did!
2. Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
a. Parents you have to implant this mindset of diligence in your children!
b. How are you doing with this?
b. A mindset set not rooted in diligence says this to itself:
i. Bill Hybel’s in His book “Making Life Work” states this about this kind of mindset – he words it this way:
1. “Some way, some day my life will improve. Some way, someday I’ll drift into more satisfying circumstances. Some way, some day what I want will come to be. Built on the fantasy that rewards will come without hard work, this notion is closer to a wishful hope than a considered philosophy, more akin to a child’s belief in magic than an adult’s grasp of reality. But it’s a mindset that is pervasive. Some way, some day…I’ll feel like doing something with my life…I’ll start waking up earlier…I’ll quit wasting so much time partying…I’ll start getting my schoolwork done on time …my boss will notice me…I’ll stumble into the job of my dreams…the perfect spouse will float into my life…the credit card companies will lose my records…I’ll win the lottery…my marriage will transform itself…my kids will stop getting into trouble…my metabolism will increase and the fat will melt away…I’ll quit craving another drink….I’ll start wanting to help the poor…I’ll fell like being a serious Christian. Sone way, some day…it’ll just happen” (Page 33).
a. Reality Check: It doesn’t just happen you have work at it – work for it! Strive toward it!
ii. This mindset has the following self talk to itself:
1. I will do it tomorrow!
2. I will do it later or next week!
3. I will lose weight after this next week.
4. I will start my diet after Thanksgiving then after Thanksgiving it will be after Christmas.
5. I will read my chapter in Proverbs tomorrow – then tomorrow comes and I will catch up next week.
a. It’s a mindset which falls into the trap of procrastination! Procrastination is putting things off and off until off is never on!
i. By the way this mindset gets caught in the black hole of putting everything off until tomorrow but the tomorrow which actually does something never occurs.
iii. This mindset has the following self talk also:
1. It’s not my fault!
2. It’s my parents fault!
3. It’s my wife’s fault!
4. It’s my bosses fault!
5. It’s Obama’s fault!
6. The Devil made me do it!
7. It’s God’s fault!
a. This mindset is caught in the black hole of making excuses. A person with this mindset of laziness always has an excuse. Why? Excuses take the responsibility for their situation off of them.
c. Working hard and staying on task is a matter of self-control and it starts with your mindset. The truth is Paul hit it on the head when he talked about the importance of us renewing our minds.
i. Proverbs 16:32b; 25:28
1. So get up early – do your devotions – read Proverbs - read the Bible to renew you mind – pray that God will change your mindset – listen to sermons – read good Christian books – listen to great worship and prayer filled music.
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).
3. Hybel’s states: It means we pay attention to where we take our bodies, who we let touch our bodies, how we care for our bodies. It means we keep our bodies away from sin, we protect them from abusive people and situations, and we actively pursue physical health. Maintaining sexual purity is one specific means of honoring God with our bodies, as is avoiding nicotine, excessive alcohol and caffeine, or any other drugs or substances that could bring them harm” (page 44).
4. Hybel’s, “Few challenges in life are met with as many excuses as our responsibility for caring for our bodies.”
a. We need to lose the excuses and take action and reclaim our physical bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit!
iv. What is Proverbs – what is wisdom saying to you about your body, your health?
1. Hybel’s : Our bodies are so alive with conflicting desires, so attuned to pleasures and pains, so tempted by immediate gratification. Responding in a God honoring way to these natural drives and desires requires more discipline and determination than almost anything else. It also requires a conscious submission to God’s purpose for our lives, which is to be a pure dwelling place for his own spirit. It’s not easy to keep such an intangible notion in mind, nor is it easy to perform the tangible acts that keep our bodies pure and healthy. But whatever the progress we make toward honoring God with our bodies will bring direct benefit into our lives, Our self-esteem will increase, along with our physical and mental energy, and our relationship with God will be enhanced. It’s a win-win-win deal” (page 45).
b. The physical realm of life just does not include health but it addresses other areas as well – here is another area:
i. Working for money – working at a job! – your career!
1. Are you working hard at your job? I am not asking if you are doing the minimum to just get by. Are you giving your work your best?
2. Some people think they can find a way around diligent work habits and still pay their bills.
a. Reality check that only happens in sitcoms on Tv.
i. You really do have to leave the coffee shop of café to make a living.
3. Bill Hybels states, “Perhaps we fall within that category of irresponsible and misguided people who think they can find a way around diligent labor. People who think if they crack the right code they can finagle a place on easy street without ever having to work for it. People who think they deserve a break or believe the fantasy that life is supposed to be easy; if they have to work hard, then something must be wrong. Such thinking is called immaturity. The truth is life is difficult and making a living is difficult. Our work, we hope, is generally fulfilling and meaningful, but there are bound to be aspects of it that are just plain hard. There will be days when we do our work because we love it, and other days we do our work simply because we are not quitters. That’s real life, for all of us.” (Making Life Work page 43).
4. Colossian 3:22-25: 22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
5. Thoughts on laziness or apathy associated with work:
a. Love what you do as a vocation, regardless of what it is. Ask God to grant His blessing and favor in your work (cf. the account of Joseph in Genesis 39). [Proverbs 12:11, 14b; 28:19]
b. Don’t try to make money by deceit or fraud. If you do, God will punish you, sooner or later. [Proverbs 3:9-10; 10:2; 11:18; 15:27; 16:8; 20:14; 28:8, 20]
c. Be honest with your employer about how much you work. If you’re lazily collecting a paycheck, that’s stealing. [Proverbs 14:23; 20:17; 22:16; 30:8-9]
d. Don’t work so much, however, that you need to re-introduce yourself to your family. Strive for a healthy balance between your work and your family life. [Proverbs 13:11, 25; 15:16-17; 23:4-5; 24:3-4]
e. Treat your work (house cleaning, school work, or whatever it is) as though you will reap a harvest from your labors. [Proverbs 20:4; 27:18, 23-27]
f. Don’t work only in order to receive. Rather, find satisfaction in simply doing good work for God and men. [Proverbs 3:27-28; 12:26; 21:25-26; 24:21-22; 25:21-22]
g. Lazy people often assume that others owe them a handout (whether they’ve worked hard or not). Don’t fall into an entitlement mentality. [Proverbs 13:4]
h. When you are asked to serve in some way, don’t attempt to take the path of least resistance (because of laziness). [Proverbs 10:26; 19:15]
i. The above is taken from http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A372:
i. The truth is making a living is difficult but it is necessary. We need to work it is part of God’s plan for your life!
j. Proverbs 14:23 23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
i. A person who is idle is also reported by Scripture to be on his way to poverty or even engulfed in poverty.
1. Don’t choose this path!
6. Managing our finances also falls in this category – today most people think the way to get rich is to buy a lottery ticket not to work hard and budget your money!
a. But I don’t have the time to cover this area this morning.
T.S. – We need to work at honoring God through our physical temples we need to keep them maintained and we need to work hard at our jobs. The third area I want to address this morning is the spiritual dimension of our life. We need to work at growing our spiritual life in Christ. This area also does not just happen it has to be intentionally developed.
III. The spiritual battle between laziness and diligence
a. Hebrews 6:12: 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
i. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/june/hardworkingsloths.html: Part of the problem (with spiritual laziness) is that spiritual receptivity requires unglamorous practices like prayer, time in Scripture, and attentiveness to what God is doing in the people around me. Telling me, "Prayer promotes spiritual growth!" has as much wow-factor as announcing, "Reducing calories leads to weight loss!" I want something new—a development that will lead to breakthrough.
ii. The truth is we all want the prayer pill - the spiritual growth shot - the remote for God. But Scripture tells us to work hard at our spiritual dimension of life. Train it! Discipline it! Grow it!
b. Quote: One of the seven deadly sins in Catholic thought is sloth, which is often defined as spiritual and/or physical apathy or laziness. Sloth is recommended against in the(Hebrews 6:12), and 2 Thessalonians 3 and associated with wickedness in one of the parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 25:26). In the Wisdom books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, it is stated that laziness can lead to poverty (Proverbs 10:4, Ecclesiastes 10:18). From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laziness#Christianity
c. There are no benefits to being spiritually idle/lazy/apathetic as a Christian. Listen to the consequences of one who is idle and lacks care or concern for others or even for God.
i. Ecclesiastes 10:18: If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.
1. Idleness/laziness brings the house of God to the point of falling apart. Because no one wants to do anything to keep it up.
a. Illustration of Outreach Church!
ii. There is a church in Revelation who was addressed by Jesus about their spiritual laziness and apathy.
1. Revelation 3:14-22:
a. 14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
i. This is an example of an apathetic, idle church. Jesus rebuked this church and told them to repent before he spits them out of his mouth.
ii. This lack of concern for the things of God has been aiding in destroying the churches effectiveness in this world for ages..
2. Proverbs 18:9 9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
a. Notice the comparison here! One who is apathetic, slack is a brother to one who destroys because they do nothing to stop the destruction. Even though it is happening all around them to the church and the lost.
i. They just stand by and do nothing!
b. They are in God’s mind set about to be spit out of the kingdom because they make him sick to his stomach.
c. They are not sweet to his lips or beautiful but foul tasting!
d. George Whitefield said, “There is not a thing on the face of the earth that I abhor so much as idleness or idle people."
d. Abandoning laziness and growing in diligence means you must be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Here are some practical steps you can take: [Proverbs 12:24, 27; 31:27]
i. Ask the Spirit to make you a hard worker for God.
ii. Read, re-read, and even memorize the proverbs that pertain to both laziness and work.
iii. Trust God to overcome any bad habits you’ve developed regarding work and diligence.
iv. When you are tempted to be lazy, seek the Spirit’s help in prayer and remind yourself what the Word of God teaches.
1. Lance Quinn - from http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A372:
e. Spiritual laziness or apathy can look like this:
i. Not going to church on a regular basis
ii. Not praying
iii. Not reading or studying your Bible
iv. Not doing personal devotions
v. Not growing in your faith
vi. Not using the spiritual gifts God wants you too
vii. Not taking spiritual practices like communion seriously
Paul warns the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 11 not to take communion with apathetic hearts or lazy spiritual lives. He tells them to evaluate their hearts before they partake. Share the story which prompted Paul to right these directions to the Corinthian church.
Today is another Spiritual mile marker moment for 2012: Reference stones!
Challenge the congregation to look at their hearts before they partake – we will be doing worship for a while. Why? So you can get your hearts in the right position – repent of your spiritual laziness – ask God to reignite a flame in your heart for Him.
Roger Rose tells this story: When he was a boy more than 60 years ago, his young brother was fatally injured in a tragic accident. A dirt road ran alongside their house, and only on rare occasions would there be a car on it. But one day as his brother was crossing on his bike, a car came roaring over the hill, and he was run over and killed. Mr. Rose said, “Later, when my dad picked up the mangled, twisted bike, I heard him sob out loud for the first time in my life! He carried it to the barn and placed it in a spot we seldom used. Father’s terrible sorrow eased with the passing of time, but for many years whenever he saw that bike, tears began streaming down his face. Since then I have often prayed, ‘Lord, keep the memory of your death that fresh in me! Every time I partake of your memorial supper, let my heart be stirred as if it occurred only yesterday. Never let the communion service become a mere formality, but always a ten-der and touching experience.’” from sermoncentral.com. Contributor Bell.
We have communion set up to be done as individuals or families but make sure everyone is ready to partake today get you heart –mind and spirit in its right position to partake!
You can come up when you are ready – if you need assistance please raise your hands so the ushers can assist you. Let’s all partake – let’s do the work necessary to show the Lord how much we love Him this morning!
Conclusion:
The blame game of laziness:
A lot of people in our society spend a lot of time blaming others for their own lack of initiative, insight, ambition, and effort.
The Southern Baptists one year had a slogan for church growth that would fit us individually: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
Zig Ziglar said, “If you’re looking for helping hand, there’s one at the end of your sleeve.”
Dr. Kenneth McFarland, the dean of American speakers, said, “The person you need to see about self-improvement is always available.”
Mike Murdock is an Assemblies of God preacher and a motivational speaker. Some of my favorites of his statements are these: The Secret Of Your Future Is Hidden In Your Daily Routine. Some people expect a great, cataclysmic event to change their lives, but…. The Quality Of Your Preparation Determines The Quality Of Your Performance. That’s true of school, continuing education, self-study. What You Fail To Master In Your Life Will Eventually Master You - addiction, laziness, indifference, preoccupation. Intolerance Of Your Present Creates Your Future. You Will Never Leave Where You Are Until You Decide Where You Would Rather Be.
Do we have the first point clearly established in our minds? If it is to be, it is up to me.
ILLUSTRATION… Discipleship Journal, 11-12/92
A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:
1. Materialism
2. Pride
3. Self-centeredness
4. Laziness
5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness
5. (Tie) Sexual lust
6. Envy
7. Gluttony
8. Lying
Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when…
they had neglected their time with God (81 percent)
and when they were physically tired (57 percent).
Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising
situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).
Challenge: If you want to get up and do something then get up – do the 1% method for change. Start changing your life’s patterns one percent a week and in about 2 years your life will be richer and more meaningful.
The sin of idleness or laziness surrounds us on all sides today. It’s a disease affecting individuals, families, the church and the world. It’s hindering the mission of the church. The idle or lazy Christians are actually helping the Father of lies to destroy more by their apathetic attitudes.
We must closely examine our lives today. Are you idle? Are you slothful? Are you lazy? Do you have a passion for lost people? Do you have goals for your life? Do you have direction in your life? If your answer is “no” to these questions then understand you are part of the problem.
I don’t know about your thoughts on this subject today but my determination is to never be idle or lazy in my life. I want my life to make a difference in this world. I want to continue to build the kingdom of God. I want to be used by God. I want to continue serving Him in His mission. Not because I have to but because I want to. I do not want to wake up some day and say I wasted my life away!
I never want to be weary for doing the right things. I never want to be so dead and lazy that I drag my feet everywhere I go. I do not want to become a liability to the Gospel.
I don’t want people dragging my lifeless body from hole to hole on the golf course of life. Rather I want to play each hole myself and even get a few birdies and eagles and maybe even a few hole in ones. How about you?
Closing thoughts: Make a commitment today to root out all laziness in your life. Strive toward the goal of diligence in the things of the Lord. Commit to wisdom and too a successful life.
