| “Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.” – Ecclesiastes 10:18 |
|---|
| The DESTRUCTIVE OUTCOMES of LAZINESS and IDLENESS Can you imagine a TV show called The LAZY and The IDLE? Don’t wait for it as those involved are always arriving late to the set and when they do show up they never get around to shooting any scenes. The LAZY and the IDLE will be canceled before it starts because they could never get started. While we will never get to see on TV how the LAZY and IDLE live, we can learn about them from the Scriptures, especially from the Books of Wisdom. Both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes address numerous times their lifestyle or their lack of a lifestyle. At times, they are called the SLUGGARD and/or the SLOTHFUL. You will find close to 20 verses in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes about them and not one time will there be anything good or positive said about them. The lazy are losers and the idle are an irritation. Take for instance just two verses: Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty. Proverbs 19:15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. Ecclesiastes 10:18 illustrates for us how the lazy and idle leave UNATTENDED things that NEED ATTENTION, sometimes needing immediate attention. The upkeep of buildings is left unattended for too long and they begin to decay. When one should have been working on maintaining their possessions they are lying around. As they lay around things begin to fall down. Even with things that need immediate attention, there is inaction. As the rain falls the roof leaks, yet it is not patched, leaving a mess EVERY time. (And don’t expect the idle to clean up the mess). Both the lazy and the idle are IRRESPONSIBLE WITH RESPONSIBILITIES. Their inaction has consequences that are negative and destructive. For instance, over time property loses value as it falls into disrepair. Their inaction will bring immediate irritation as they will not respond to the immediate crisis. There is a contrasting verse that speaks volumes to HOW we are to live and that verse is Proverbs 12:27. It gives the contrast of the lazy by telling of the diligent. Proverbs 12:27 says, “The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.” The DILIGENT DOES WHAT MUST BE DONE WHEN IT MUST BE DONE! The LAZY and the IDLE leave undone what must be done until it is irreparable. Which lifestyle are you? Are you known for DILIGENCE? Or are you known as LAZY and IDLE? Verse to DATE the Word on October 18 (10/18) is Ecclesiastes 10:18. It says, “Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.” Let the destructive outcomes of LAZINESS and ILDENESS JOLT you to refuse to ever have it said that you are lazy and idle! Continue Strong with a STRONG WORK ETHIC And remember to DATE THE WORD! |