Who is Lazy?

Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain,

overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.  How long will you slumber, O sluggard?  When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything was just handed to us – we didn’t have to work for anything?  It might be nice for a while – like a vacation – but I am sure we would get bored.  Even Adam and Eve, living in a perfect world (before the fall) worked in the garden.  Genesis 2:15  “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”  After the fall, the work got hard.

The Bible has a lot to say about working.  The Apostle Paul worked to provide for himself so that no one could say that he was in the ministry for the money.   1 Thessalonians 2:9  “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.”   2 Thessalonians 3:7-10  “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;  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, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

Notice that Paul says “will not” work – not “can not” work.  There is a difference.  If you are able bodied, then you need to work to support yourself.

But what about God providing all that we need?  If we are working, then we are providing for ourselves, right?  Wrong!  God provides our skills and abilities.  God provides the opportunities for work.  God will provide but it does require our participation.

Proverbs 14:23  “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter[fn] leads only to poverty.”

God allows us to create a life for ourselves.  He gives us the skills, abilities, tools and resources so that we can have the best life possible.  It is what we do with that provision that determines what kind of life we will have.  This earthly life is just a blip on the radar in contrast to eternity.  But this earthly life will dictate what our eternal life will be.  We have free will and we can do anything we want.  The choice is ours.  However, choices have consequences.  No one is perfect and we all make bad choices at times.  We can land ourselves in a pit.  But we don’t have to stay there!

Not only do we have free will but we also have rules to follow.  We can choose to follow God’s laws or not.  The consequences of our choices will follow us into eternity.

On earth, we have man-made rules to follow as well.  When we choose to break the law, we have consequences to pay.  Could be a hefty fine or jail time.  Our choices will follow us during our time on earth.

So, here’s the choice.  We can work and provide for ourselves and our family.  Or we can not work and go hungry.  Maybe you have a job and you go to work every day.  You show up but you do as little work as possible.  You don’t really want to be there and you don’t like the work that you have to do.  Could it be that God has placed you there for a reason?

Colossians 3:22  “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”

Colossians 3:23-24  “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

A life time of work gives us an earthly reward – retirement!  (if we plan ahead)  Even the ant plans ahead and can enjoy the fruit of their labor.  Retirement is our reward.  If we haven’t worked, there is no reward – no retirement.  Only poverty will be waiting for us.

God requires us to be faithful in all that we do.  Whether it is a job to earn a living or a ministry to serve the Lord.  Do it with your whole heart.  Half-hearted attempts at anything are not worth it.  Picture God as your boss.  Would you goof off for Him?  What if the reward you received was only as good as the effort you put in?  What motives you to do your best?  Do you work only when someone is watching?  God sees it all!  There is nothing we can do behind His back.

Earthly rewards require work.

Eternal rewards require Jesus.

And you can have both!