Hello brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world! I pray you are all well and striving? I do not post many pictures of myself but I did so this time and it is for some specific purposes.
Recently a brother and I have been talking about both power and laziness. This picture is me standing in front of a huge powerful water turbine used to make electricity at a dam in Missouri.
I recently talked about power of God in this link: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2021/04/is-your-sin-more-powerful-then-your.html
For this article, I want to talk about the opposite of the power that we have available to us and cover the situation of laziness or idle ways. These terrible qualities are indeed sin but they are not a new sin. Apostle Paul dealt with them way back 2000 years ago and he told us how to deal with men in such sins. Paul says do NOT associate with them so it could cost you your fellowship men!
2 Thess 3
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
*I think it is important to note that while there are many reasons a man could be lazy (up bringing, environment, age etc) the truth is that there is NO GOOD REASON at all to stay in that condition. No excuses will do as Hebrews 10:26 tells us willful sin is NOT covered by Christs blood and on going laziness is indeed willful.
Note: If you are waiting for a job to open up, fine then be about more study, prayer or ministry in your free time daily. If you are retired, seek a ministry and strive for lost souls daily as we have no reason to not be active for our Lord. Paul told us what to do with time:
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5
Now that we know how bad a sin lazy ways really are; lets address what is does in a mans life in a negative way:
1) it goes against God's commands to work
2) it ruins your witness with saints
3) it ruins your witness in the world
4) it creates a bad spiritual foundation for a holy disciple of Christ
5) it demeans God's power given to us to over come
6) it will make you dependent or a burden on others
7) it steals your chance to have something extra to help others
It matters not if you agree or not with hard work as God changed His plan after the fall. He ordained man to TOIL (Genesis 3) so it is your fate men, till you die. But take heart as there are many ways to toil or labor and it is good. A young man will have to work hard yes for a long time to make his way, raise a family and get himself set up. If he is wise and frugal, he could over time begin to work less for money and toil at helping others, preaching the gospel or teaching others in the body. Others could be laboring in ministry daily and work full time. Some may stay single and work part time and preach the rest of the time. It is all good labor. Work is work so no matter your situation you need to be about laboring as God has commanded it. Young men you must work to make a way and older men, you who retire must work on perhaps now to bring the gospel to the lost vs hunting and fishing your life way as most men do it seems. I myself labored for 35 years in the business world but once born again, I sought to labor for God's kingdom. I do not seek money any longer as I can provide for my home without working a job; but laboring for the kingdom goes on daily.
What is your life really about daily? To see what a biblical life consists of may help you out of lazy ways. I tell men this is the pattern for our lives as modeled by Paul and Jesus:
*study in the word
*work to support yourself
*fellowship with saints
*do ministry / preach the gospel
*care for a wife/husband or children (if you have them)
*sleep and feed your body
*restore yourself in God's creation
(if you are doing many other things like hobbies entertainment or wasted time; you are not in biblical order)
Here are some scriptures about lazy or idle ways to help us see it clearly:
Proverbs 13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.Colossians 3:23 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Proverbs 10:4 - He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 18:9 - He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Proverbs 21:25 - The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Proverbs 24:30-34 - I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Proverbs 20:4 - The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:13 - Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Proverbs 19:15 - Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
John 5:17 - But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Proverbs 12:24 - The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 6:6 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Proverbs 26:13-16 - The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Proverbs 14:23 - In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 - For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Hebrews 13:16 - But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.