Lesson from the Lazy

Intro:

I want to speak to you this morning about a sickness that all humans suffer from. The ailment is called Laziness.

I have a riddle for you:

What grows on people that begins in a cobweb and ends in iron chains? Answer- Laziness (William Hales)

The only time a lazy man succeeds is when he tries to do nothing

Background:

Remember that Proverbs is meant to communicate the need for right behavior or proper conduct. The purpose of Proverbs for the follower of God is Sanctification.

Characters:

Proverbs contains two treacherous characters; The Adulterous Woman and The Sluggard

Both of these characters are meant to thwart the life of the follower of God.

Laziness being the foremost of all and the most subtle.

Proverbs 22:13 NASB95

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”

Proverbs 22:13

Laziness is an Offense to God

Laziness is not the same as fatigue although they look similar

Laziness is defined as one who is slow, idle, hesitant , vacillates, procrastinates, negligent, and inactive.

Laziness is an issue of virtue. (Moral, having to do with whats right)

Laziness is the enemy of virtue, and the very train of all wickedness- Patrick Fleming

Laziness is characterized as:

Being full of excuses

refusals

Postponements

Laziness is also Subtle

“Dripping becomes a trickle, a trickle becomes a stream, a stream collects together to make a river”

Because God works and He has created us to work .

Work is not limited to vocation but to other areas of our lives. (Spiritual, Care for others, etc…)

Laziness tramples the responsibility God has given us.

Laziness opposes the Will of God

For this is the will of God....Give thanks

For this is the will of God....Be Sanctified

Being inactive or idle opposes the will of God

James 4:17 NASB95

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Romans 7:14–20 NASB95

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Romans

Laziness Affects Outcomes

God only wants for us what we would want for ourselves if we were smart enough to want it- Adrian Rogers

Is there anything you aspire to do in life?

The Devil often finds work for those who find none for themselves

Laziness brings harm to yourself

Laziness not only opposes the will of God but also your personal goals

If you get to a point when you don’t Start work or finish work

Leisure has become your idol.

Laziness is fueled by excuses

Resulting in:

You being undisciplined

an unsatisfied

The path of laziness is the straightest of all paths to want and woe- Forbes

Laziness affects Others

Negligence- failure to take proper care in doing something.

What you don’t do can hurt others

Ezra 4:22 NASB95

“Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter; why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”

Ezra 4:22

Restaurant Illustration: Chick Fil A versus other eateries. Chick fil A is built on diligence and care versus the apathy of other eateries.

Conclusion:

Laziness is not a issue of physiology but is spiritual

Laziness is not God’s will for man

There was a man who was a corn farmer who had boys and they worked harder than all the other boys in the Cornfields. While the others would be playing baseball or swimming, the boys would be working the corn farm. One day someone approached the farmer and said you need to lighten up on those boys, you don’t need all that corn! The Farmer said “Mister Im not raising corn, Im raising Boys!”

God has not created us to be Slack or Slothful but t o be Saints of Christ!!

Laziness leads to Death

Proverbs 19:16

Proverbs 19:16 NASB95

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NASB95

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Sloth is the tempter that beguiles and expels from paradise- Amos Bronson Alcott

God commands us to not be Lazy

Romans 12:11 NASB95

not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

God equips us to overcome Laziness

Hebrews 13:20–21 NASB95

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:21 NASB95

equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation:

Laziness is rooted in sin and keeps many from salvation

If you know you are not saved and need to be saved

God was not lazy in saving us

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.