Potential

Week 3

Text: ;

Topic(s): Laziness, Busyness, Potential, Intentions, Dreams

Big Idea of the Message: Laziness isn’t always being unwilling to work. Laziness can

also be failing to work where it really matters—which breeds sins like lust, greed, and

envy.

Application Point: Lazy people can be lazy. Busy people can be lazy. Laziness is a

heart problem, not a work problem.

Sermon Talking Points:

Intro: 

Have you ever thought of fishing from the fish’s perspective?

Of course, they’re unintelligent beings compared to humankind, but it’s still fun to think about.

unintelligent beings compared to humankind, but it’s still fun to think about.

Here we are on land, organizing fishing competitions, parent-child fishing trips, and

fishing TV shows. 

We eat fish sandwiches, have fish markets, and buy fishing

magazines so we can be better prepared to fish. 

And the fish aimlessly swims around biting at whatever looks good. 

Before a person accepts Christ, that person is aimlessly swimming through life, biting at whatever looks good and tastes right.

that person is aimlessly swimming through life, biting at whatever looks good and

tastes right.

BUT

creation

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

now aware of their deep depravity and sinful

So after a person comes to know Christ, they are a new

now aware of their deep depravity and sinful leanings. 

leanings. 

creation now aware of their deep depravity and sinful leanings. 

There is a new (though not total) understanding of the warfare that

surrounds us, and we no longer have to swim ignorantly or aimlessly through life,

hoping we just get by. 

Can you imagine if the fish became aware of our tactics as

fishermen?

It would certainly make fishing a lot more difficult.

As Christians, we see that The Bible exposes the devil and our sin/flesh for what they are

and reveals their tendencies;

they both are no respecter of persons

and are set on catching us and destroying us.

God very diligently pinpointed some of these sins and some of these baits because he knew that humanity would easily be taken by them. 

One of these sins is laziness, 

1. Laziness is a lack of spiritual character. 

This is another bait that the devil could use to destroy us.  

Really pastor laziness?

Someone might say, “I’m definitely not lazy, so I can tune out on this one.

I work a sixty-hour workweek, I’m raising three-plus kids, I’m taking care of my spouse

a sixty-hour workweek, I’m raising three-plus kids, I’m taking care of my spouse

who is ill, and so on and so on.”

But wait a minute. We’re not talking about being

busy. We’re talking about laziness.

We’re talking about laziness.

Being lazy means “to be unwilling to work or use energy. Showing a lack of effort or care” 

use energy. Showing a lack of effort or care” 

 The Bible uses the word “sluggard.” This means “loose or

undisciplined. The Hebrew term can refer to a bow not strung or equipped with

an arrow for action”

Hebrew also Stands for

a bow failing he that trusts in it 

Application Point: Lazy people can be lazy. Busy people can be lazy. Laziness is a

heart problem, not a work problem.

So if laziness is a lack of spiritual character then that means 

So if laziness is a lack of spiritual character then that means 

There can be professional and personal discipline while still maintaining a lack of character because of our sinful inclinations. 

This is the person who is a workaholic at work but is too tired to pay any attention to their family when they arrive home from work. 

work. 

STOP, DONT YOU DARE LEAN OVER TO YOUR SPOUSE AND TELL THEM TO LISTEN. 

 Because if they do truly need to hear this the minute you lean over and say something to them is the minute they turn their ears off and refuse to listen to it. You let the Holy Spirit do that work. You let God be God and you be you.

You brought them to this church With me as the Pastor so you let me preach the church 

You brought them to this church With me as the Pastor so you let me preach the church 

This is the person who is a workaholic at work but is too tired to pay any attention to their family when they arrive home from

work. 

Some would call that exhaustion. The Bible would refer to that as “lazy”

(; ).

(NLT): Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,

but the diligent make use of everything they find.

(NLT):  25  Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,

for their hands refuse to work.

26  Some people are always greedy for more,

but the godly love to give!

 It sounds like an insult; after all, we are working

hard, but are we disciplined in all areas that matter?

 If not, we’re still lazy.

2. Lazy Talent 

Then there are those who are talented but lazy.

These people will only reach a certain potential because of their lack of desire

certain potential because of their lack of desire to work harder to be better. This

to work harder to be better. This could be becoming a better musician, student,

could be becoming a better musician, student, father, mother, preacher,

father, mother, preacher, accountant, businessman, and much more. 

accountant, businessman, and much more. 

This person dreams big, but the dreams are bigger than the actions. 

This is the student who determines they’re going to do better this semester,

going to do better this semester, so they go out and purchase a brand-new,

so they go out and purchase a brand-new, leather-bound $100 planner to keep

leather-bound $100 planner to keep detailed entries on all assignments and

detailed entries on all assignments and tasks.

tasks. They even go so far as take all their course outlines and enter all the

They even go so far as take all their course outlines and enter all the

entries for every class, but midsemester the calendar can’t be found.

Good intentions were there, but to follow through takes an entirely different level.

intentions were there, but to follow through takes an entirely different level. This

This is still laziness.

is still laziness.

3. Procrastination 

Did you know that laziness can lead to procrastination?

Have you ever wondered why you procrastinate? 

why you procrastinate? 

A researcher named Barbara Oakley studied procrastination and 

 some frightening facts about procrastination: 

1) It’s addicting.

(2) Procrastinators report higher stress and worse health. 

(3) We do it to make the here and now better. 

(4) We often procrastinate about things that make us feel uncomfortable.

 Even the pain centers of the brain light up when you think about a certain item or items,

and the result is you tending to more convenient, often mind-numbing, items. 

It’s important to note that this research shows that it was merely the anticipation that was painful. Once people started performing that task, the pain disappeared.

 (5) The dread of doing the task consumes more energy than performing the task itself

4. Safeguards 

A lazy individual is someone who ultimately has spiritual heart issues. 

Laziness could be determined and temporarily fixed through behavior modification, but

ultimately, if the spiritual condition is never settled, this area will always be an

issue. 

How does one set up safeguards, so as not to flirt with disaster in this area

of their life? 

(NLT):  23  Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life

We should heed the admonition given in and “guard

[our] heart.”

 We can guard our heart from laziness

by ensuring we remain disciplined in everything we do, 

disciplined in everything we do, 

BUT

We must not allow discipline to become an idol..

as it can often become an idol in our lives

can often become (we are not lacking books in the self-improvement area of a

(we are not lacking books in the self-improvement area of a

bookstore). 

FIRST,

We must NOT make excuses for things that need to get done,

both professionally and personally.

This is certainly easier said than done, but it

is something we must yield to the Holy Spirit.

Closing 

(NLT): 4  Lazy people are soon poor;

hard workers get rich

in another translation

says that “diligent hands bring wealth.”

person often has to motivate themselves, as the Hebrew word ḥāraṣ implies. 

A diligent, motivated person often has to motivate themselves,

as the Hebrew word ḥāraṣ implies. 

SECOND, 

Plan to get things done that need to get done. 

says,

(NLT): So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

16  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

In the KJV it uses the word Circumspectly instead of “be careful”

Which means, Cautiously; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger.

Which is why the NIV says 

 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” 

“Very careful” comes from two Greek

words that carry the idea of perception and examination

Perception: Becoming aware of something through the senses; a mental impression

Examination: A detailed inspection or investigation

 That means that to make the best use of time (not being lazy), we plan carefully and

do things purposefully.

CLOSING MUSIC WORSHIP TEAM

Do you schedule a date night with your spouse or child?

If not, it won’t get done as often as it should. 

Do you purpose to play with you kids when you’re tired after a long day of work?

Do you communicate with your spouse, even though you’re tired from communicating at work?

We must be very diligent, proactive, and careful, to ensure we’re not flirting with disaster in the

diligent, proactive, and careful, to ensure we’re not flirting with disaster in the

area of laziness.

In Christianity today . Ed Stetzer makes an interesting point when he claims that a big reason people

don’t get involved in their local church is due to laziness.

He says that

“it’s easier to be a Consumer than a Collaborator”

to be a Consumer than a Collaborator” adding, “the thing about laziness is that it’s

adding,

“the thing about laziness is that it’s contagious.”

contagious.” He says, “churches must make it more difficult for those who want to

He says, “churches must make it more difficult for those who want to

come and be lazy”

Big Idea of the Message: Laziness isn’t always being unwilling to work. Laziness can

also be failing to work where it really matters—which breeds sins like lust, greed, and

envy.

Church,” The Exchange with Ed Stetzer [blog], Christianity Today, June 13, 2014

https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/june/3-reasons-people-are-not-

involved-in-your-church.html).