Proverbs 6:6-11 (KJV)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegu, South Korea
BIG IDEA: The believer who is capable of working SHOULD WORK and EARN his/her living.
REFERENCES: 2 Thessalonians 3:10b (… that if any would not work, neither should he eat); Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (MSG); Lazarus and The Rich Man: Luke 16:19-31 (KJV); 1 Tim 6:17-19 (KJV): Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life; Proverbs 19:17 -KJV ( He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again); Psalms 41:1 – KJV (Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble); Proverbs 6:1-6; Proverbs 8:6; The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer - Prov 30:25 (KJV)
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Thessalonians 5:14a (MSG) &
Proverbs 6: 6-11 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Thessalonians 5:14a (MSG) &
Proverbs 6:6-11(KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:14a (MSG) - Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, … &
Proverbs 6:6 (KJV) - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to WORK and EARN their living; and NOT TO BE FREELOADERS.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “ANT-ligent!”
INTRODUCTION:
It has been said that LAZINESS (by Mortimer Caplan) is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
Someone else has said, “Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.”
In Chapter 25 of the fairy tale story of “The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi,”
Pinocchio (as you may recall was a MARIONETTE – a puppet controlled by strings) was having a conversation with his FAIRY … when he makes it emphatically clear that he DESIRES to be human AND NOT WORK BECAUSE WORK WEARIES HIM … his FAIRY responds:
” "My dear boy," … "people who speak as you do usually end their days either in a prison or in a hospital.
A man, remember, whether rich or poor, should do something in this world. No one can find happiness without work….
Laziness is a serious illness and one must cure it immediately; yes, even from early childhood. If not, it will kill you in the end."
These words touched Pinocchio’s heart. He lifted his eyes to his Fairy and said seriously: "I’ll work; I’ll study; I’ll do all you tell me.”
*******TAKE 5 BEATS********
MOVE 1: Now, my brothers and my sisters, it has been said that Laziness is the lack of desire.
a. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines lazy as being … disinclined to activity or exertion: not energetic or vigorous; and encouraging inactivity or indolence
b. The WORD indolent is the meaning of the WORD SLUGGARD which is used in our TEXT today - …
c. … and it SUGGEST a LOVE of ease …
c. In other words, SOMEONE WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVES DOING NOTHING …AND BEING A FREELOADER
*******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 2: There is a JOKE entitled “CHRONIC LAZINESS” where A … man told his doctor that he wasn’t able to do all the things around the house that he used to do.
a. When the examination was complete, he said, "Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me?" …
b. … "Well, in plain English," the doctor replied, "you’re just
lazy." …
c. …"Okay," said the man. "Now give me the medical term so I can
tell my wife."
*****TAKE 5 BEATS *****
Move 3: Now, … most of you may recall a sermon that I preached a couple of weeks ago, dubbed – “GOD is my HELPER” from Psalms 41:1 and Luke 16:19-21.
a. It was about Poor Lazarus and The Rich Man.
b. In that sermon, you may recall that I dressed as a beggar, and my clothes had been submerged in vinegar which caused many of you to rub your noses.
c. You may also recall the charge we gave TO EACH OF you.
d. As believers you were motivated to embrace the responsibility of HELPING THE POOR LAZARUSES within our church and our community.
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 4: Your response was overwhelming; and as your pastor, I couldn’t be more GODLY PROUD of you.
a. You demonstrated through your actions and your response to God’s Word that “LOVE ISN’T LOVE, UNTIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY.”
b. After church that Sunday, my wife, Kendall (my middle son) and I were leaving dinner from one of our favorite KOREAN Restaurants in downtown Taegu, when something unique happened.
c. A beggar … who was moderately dressed came-up to me requesting alms (money) but gesturing a desire to smoke.
d. I hesitated a few moments, and Dedra saw me.
e. Suddenly to my surprise, I was bamboozled, the WORD that I had preached earlier – “GOD is my helper” - was staring me in the face.
*******TAKE 5 BEATS********
MOVE 5: Because of the beggars actions and his demeanor (of being somewhat tipsy) I reluctantly called out to him “Ar-de’-she” (which is Hungul/Korean for Mr.) ….
a. and I gestured for him to come back to me, while I simultaneously reached for my wallet.
b. I handed him 10,000 wons (which is equivalent to $10.00) when he reached toward my wallet for more.
c. At that moment, my EYES BECAME OPEN, and I saw him for who he was. The enemy SPIRITUALLY dressed in a BEGGAR DEMEANOR.
d. It was, now, clear to me that this man WAS NOT A BEGGAR – HE WAS A SLUGGARD (INDOLENT) and he just taken advantage of me.
e. I said to Dedra, boy I’m scared of him. Because, if he uses the money unwisely he could find himself in a WORSE SITUATION.
*********TAKE 5 BEATS********
MOVE 6: In 2 Thessalonians 3:10b – Paul says If any would not work, neither should he eat.
a. And in our 1 Thessalonians text today, Paul counsels us to WARN the FREE LOADERS in the church to get a MOVE ON and GET BUSY.
b. In other words, Pastor PAUL encourages US to ENCOURAGE fellow believers who FOR WHATEVER REASON have lost their courage, …
c. … and have FALLEN IN LOVE WITH DOING NOTHING and has become IDLE - regarding GOD’S STANDARD for believers - and turned into BUSYBODIES to WORK.
d. For who can ever forget the punishment God gave to mankind because of his disobedience in the Garden.
e. For don’t you remember, God said to Adam in Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
********TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 7: FINALLY, in OUR Proverbs TEXT … - Proverb 6:6-11 (MSG) - the WORD of GOD encourages us to LEARN the importance of WORK from the insect called the ANT:
a. In fact, according to the MESSAGE Bible, the WORD reads: You lazy fool, look at an ANT.
b. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
c. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpile provisions.
d. In other words, LAZINESS SHOULD BE AVOIDED because lazy folk fall into POVERTY.
e. FOR When a man is truly LAZY, HE CAN USUALLY GIVE AN EXCUSE FOR HIS LAZINESS.
********TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 8: Proverbs 26:13-14 says a LAZY MAN WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A LION IN THE WAY; A LION IS IN THE STREET.
a. IN ORDER TO CONVINCE HIMSELF THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOME GREAT OBSTACLE in the way.
b. So he can turn over in his bed and go to sleep …
c. But if we are obedient to God’s WORD and learn from the ANT .. we will be STEADY and steadfast.
d. Working as unto the LORD.
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
CELEBRATION:
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, … WE LEARN FROM THE ANT … THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING … DILIGIENT …
OR … IF YOU WILL … ANT-ligent.
… ALWAYS BUSY … doing a GOOD WORK.
