Don't Slack Off Now

2 Thessalonians 3:11 NKJV

11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

Introduction

Illustration: Psychology of Slacking by Jessica Miller-Merrell

As employees reach communication fatigue in critical mass, the psychology and act of slacking at companies across the world has also reaches a disturbing level. 44% of employees are not committed to perform even though they know what to do.

While Jessica Merrell is not sure that they are directly correlated, she does believe the two are inter-connected. Over the last 3 years, companies have drastically downsized and restructured leaving employee commitment levels dangerously low.  And so we slack not necessarily because we are a disengaged workforce disinterested in our work but because we have to. 

Slacking to demonstrate our necessity within the organization.  Filling our days with meeting requests, coffee breaks, and conference calls about conference calls. Because professional slacks have a knack for looking and acting productive even when it’s actually the opposite.

There once was a supervisor named Bill.  He made slacking look like an Olympic sport.  Bill successfully scheduled massive amounts of meetings and re-scheduled them on a daily basis.  Since the company’s calendars were open to most anyone to view, his manager periodically took a peek as she was curious about the involvement in all his activities.  Bill had successfully mastered the fine art of slacking.  He was a friend to all and made the regular rounds chatting it up while he patiently waited for the 21 months until his retirement.

Bill was a slacker yet not in so many words.  Hanging on by his fingernails through four HR  reorganizations- one of which resulted in a position demotion.  Bill didn’t owe anything to the company, and I believe he felt the same way about his manager.  Perhaps, the man was really on to something.

Or you could make the argument that slacking is one’s natural environment.  It was Bill’s nature to be a slacker.  On average employees spend about two hours a day at work not counting lunch wasting away.  Facebook or no Facebook.  Smoking or no smoking.  The slackers remain slacking.  Corporate slackers and unproductivity cost companies $759 billion a year across the nation.  And that’s not including March Madness.

Or maybe you have heard the phrase...

idle hands are the devil's workshop

Alternative forms

idle hands are the devil's playthings

idle hands are the devil's tools

the devil makes work for idle hands

the devil finds work for idle hands

idle hands make work for the devil

Webster’s Dictionary defines “idle” as being “shiftless,” “lazy,” “lacking worth or basis,” and “having no evident lawful means of support.”

5 Ways an Idle Mind Is the Devil's Workshop

Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

@Crosswalk.com

You’ve probably heard it said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. I have even said it myself. In fact, school just ended where we live, and I remember hearing my wife say this to my daughter just the other day.

What comes to mind when most people think about this statement, is the imagery of someone who is sitting around all day doing absolutely nothing. We equate idleness with lack of activity. Since you have nothing to do you...you may become more prone to get into trouble.

When Satan attacks he usually attacks the mind. There is good reason for that, because we know the actions you take first begin with thoughts in your mind. Satan looks for little footholds or entryways to gain access to your mind. We have to learn how to shut those doors and keep them closed. Here are 5 doors to be keenly aware of:

1. Don’t Let Anger Linger

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. – Ephesians 4:26-27

2. Watch Your Company

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

3. Meditate on the Good Stuff

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. – Philippians 4:8

4. Don’t Trip Someone Else Up

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. – 1 Corinthians 8:9

5. Make Prayer a Part of Your Life

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:18

Transition To Body

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 ESV

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Body

Orders To Glorify The Greatness Of Jesus Christ (Follow Godly Models) (vv6-9)

2 Thessalonians 3:6–9 NKJV

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

Christ-Centered Commands & Encouragement For The Wayward (vv10-13)

2 Thessalonians 3:10–13 NKJV

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

Church Discipline Meant To Warn Not Alienate The Disobedient (vv-14-15)

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 NKJV

14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Transition To Close

Illustration: Fortune Magazines Jane Their writes in her article “The Great Remorse takes over the Great Resignation as most workers who quit their job are having a hard time finding a new one” (November 12, 2022)

Definition of the Great Resignation- The Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit[2][3]and the Great Reshuffle,[4][5] is an ongoing economic trend in which employees have voluntarily resigned from their jobs en masse, beginning in early 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most cited reasons for resigning include mandatory vaccinations, wage stagnation amid rising cost of living, limited opportunities for career advancement, hostile work environments, lack of benefits, inflexible remote-work policies, and long-lasting job dissatisfaction.[6] Most likely to quit have been workers in hospitality, healthcare, and education.

Over 70% of job seekers say it has been harder than they’d hoped to lock down a good role.

The latest workers to join the Great Resignation aren’t having as easy a time finding anew job as they thought it would be, and it’s leading to the Great Remorse.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of workers on the job hunt, Harris Poll found, believe hiring managers are dropping the ball, often ignoring their application submissions or failing to schedule interviews. As a result, about 2/3 of those job seekers expressed regret over failing to begin their search sooner.

The frustration and the slog of the job search has led over half (51%) of seekers to agree that, as it stands, they would take any job offer that comes along.

When the Master Is Delayed

Matthew 24:45–51 ESV

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Whatever you do…

Colossians 3:17 ESV

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

There’s power in that name...

Luke 10:17 ESV

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

Luke 10:20 ESV

20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Acts 4:12 ESV

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Close- The LORD of

Peace

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Grace

2 Thessalonians 3:18 ESV

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.