Word For The Day: Laziness

As we continue with the topic of God and entertainment, I would like to share with you about another danger of endless entertainment, which is kind of a progression of yesterday’s topic. That is, when you become a slave to endless entertainment you fall in the sin of LAZINESS.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30–34).

EXPLANATION:

In the above passage, we are presented with the case of a man that has become lazy and careless. He has neglected his responsibilities in favor of laziness, relaxation and simple mindless rest. The Bible presents a lazy person as someone that lacks sense, someone who has not used his senses to realize that the God-given responsibilities must take priority in his life. This man’s field is overgrown with thorns and the ground covered with nettles, which means he has been engaged in pointless rest and entertainment (in the form of extreme relaxation) for a very long time. If he were to start working on his field at this point, it would be very difficult for him to get it ready for farming because he has abandoned it for a long time and responsibilities have now piled up. This is what happens when entertainment rules a person’s life, responsibilities are neglected and when he wants to do something about it, it is very difficult because it is now much more work than anyone can handle.

In our passage, the one observing this field says, “Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction”. The prudent person considers his own life and the example of others and wisely receives instruction to change his ways. The prudent person realizes that if you continue in the path of laziness, “poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man”. You will desire but you will have nothing because you always favored entertainment. Wealth and financial stability does not happen magically, the Lord has created a world in which if you work, you will have at least your basic needs covered, but if you are lazy, poverty will come like an armed robber, when you least expect it you will find yourself needing.

APPLICATION:

Brethren, I encourage you to have common sense and be like the man that observed the field of a lazy person. Consider your ways and analyze your heart before God to see if laziness has ruled your life. Look at your work to see if it is overgrown with thorns and your stone walls broken down. Do not be like the man that folds his hands and just relaxes and his work keeps piling up; it’ll soon be too late.
You may be guilty of wasting your time before a big exam and then try to get ready the night before. You will not be able to manage it well because work has now piled up. The same can be the case with your job, if you relax too much, you will just accumulate much more work than you can handle and will end up stressed out because of your neglect.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little more time playing video games and watching TV shows, a little more time mindlessly scrolling through facebook and watching Netflix, a little more time sitting around without doing anything, a little more pointless text messaging and your poverty will come like an armed robber. You will have no life and will be useless for the service of the Lord and for the extension of his kingdom.

I plead with you, stop slumbering, stop living for entertainment, stop folding your hands and letting your field be overgrown with thorns and nettles. Grab a hold of God’s grace and destroy the idol of entertainment in your life with the help that God alone can give.

Pastor Hector