THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF LAZINESS
Proverbs 20:4 NLT
[4] Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
You’ve heard similar warnings: If you don’t study, you’ll fail the test; if you don’t save, you won’t have money when you need it. God wants us to anticipate future needs and prepare for them. We can’t expect him to come to our rescue when we cause our own problems through lack of planning and action. He provides for us, but he also expects us to be responsible.
Laziness can destroy a persons life and relationship with God!
Romans 12:11-12 NLT
[11] Never be lazy, (LACKING IN ZEAL-NIV version) but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. [12] Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:11 NIV
[11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Lacking Zeal is the same as Laziness.
Guess what? Do you get tired? So does everyone else! What do you spend your time doing during the day? What do you spend your mental energy thinking about? DTP’s, ( DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS), or are you renewing your mind in Gods Word daily?
Romans 12:2 NIV
[2] Do not conform 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.
Philippians 4:6-8 NIV
[6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
God created us to be grateful for our mind, body, and soul. How do you use your mind? How do you treat the body God gave you? How do you connect your soul to God?
“TO CHOOSE A LIFE OF LAZINESS WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE LIKE HELL ON EARTH. AND THEN YOUR CHOICE WILL PUT YOU IN HELL.”
IF YOU FIND YOUR LIFE PLAGUED WITH LAZINESS, GET HUMBLE AND MAKE THE DECISION TO CHANGE THIS DESTRUCTIVE PATTERN. REPENT AND ASK SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO START MAKING CHANGES.
The 1st step is to get on your knees every day and ask God for the power to repent. He will forgive you.
What is your sin of Laziness?
1) Are you overweight? Ask yourself why? The answer is you eat too much and don’t exercise enough. Solution: Pray to deny yourself and do not negotiate with emotions. Make a meal plan and exercise routine and stick to it! This will take consistent prayer and a defining character to keep the life-changing decisions you make.
2) Are you constantly in and out of work? Why? Poor work performance? Chronic tardiness? A bad attitude that shows? Are you too prideful to start with a job that isn’t your dream job? Have honest expectations of who you are and where you are at in your life?
Proverbs 12:11 NIV
[11] Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
3) Are you growing in your Faith and Love for God and His commands?
2 John 1:6 NIV
[6] And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
1 John 5:2-4 NLT
[2] We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. [3] Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. [4] For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
Psalm 119:103-105 NLT
[103] How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. [104] Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. [105] Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
IF YOU SAY YOU LOVE GOD, BUT DON’T LOVE HIS WORD, THE BIBLE, THEN YOU ARE DECEIVED. TO LOVE HIS COMMANDS MEANS TO BE CONSTANTLY LOVING TO READ HIS ETERNAL VOICE ON PAPER, THE BIBLE.
What do you say to Christ when He calls you to account for how you lived your life for Him?
Matthew 25:25-30 NLT
[25] I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ [26] “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, [27] why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ [28] “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. [29] To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. [30] Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
[24] Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! [25] All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. [26] So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. [27] I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
When we stand before God at the judgment, God expects us to have done the best we could with what God created us to be. Fear or excuses won’t help. We are saved by grace. This gift of grace should produce in each of us a desire to please God our Father each day and seek guidance and His strength to follow through with each day with zeal and perseverance.
Finish the race strong! A winner is a person who continues to get back up faithfully after losing time and time again!
Fight the good fight, keep the Faith and Finish the race!