"Laziness"

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." Psalm 128:1,2

We live in an age and a society where everyone wants something for nothing. Everybody wants a "hand out". They want to have everything they want and not have to make any effort to get it. This trend is growing even among Christians. We have developed a "welfare mentality" or "everybody owes me" (including God) way of thinking. This is not what the Bible teaches. It teaches us that if a man does not work, he does not eat. It also teaches us from the verses above that it is a blessing to eat the labor of our own hands. There are those who are physically unable to work because of age or health issues, some are unemployed and looking for work, then there are some who are care-givers and have to look after someone else (this is a blessed ministry). The scriptures aren't talking about these people. It is talking to those who can work but aren't and are waiting for someone else to "labor for them". This is contrary to the Word of God and even God calls it "laziness".

Not only has this way of thinking influenced us in the "natural" but worse than that, it has influenced us "spiritually". When it comes to growing in the Lord, being discipled and following Jesus we want someone else to "labor" for us. We want to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Sadly, many Christians don't know the Word of God for themselves. They are "lazy" when it comes to opening the Bible for themselves and searching the scriptures. They depend on their pastors, the evangelists, the television preachers, their Sunday school teachers, etc. Did God give us these "gifts" to help us learn and grow? Yes, He did. But they were never intended to replace our personal relationship, devotional time, or study of God's Word. It would be foolish for me to think that someone else could live out my relationship for me with my husband. And it is foolish to think that someone else can live out my relationship with the Lord for me also.

God clearly says in His Word for us to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling", not let someone else work it out for us. Spiritual laziness is a dangerous thing. For one, if you are always letting someone else "feed" you, and never "feed" yourself, how do you know that person isn't putting "poison" in your bottle? If you depend on someone else to "labor" for you, you will never have your own relationship with the Lord. If you don't have a relationship with Him, that means He doesn't know you. (He may know those who are "feeding" you, but not you.) If He doesn't know you, one day He will tell you to "depart from Me, I don't know you." Laziness is always detrimental. You might think you are benefiting because you aren't doing anything but just receiving. But in the end, you will discover otherwise.

Have a great day. Spiritual laziness can only lead to spiritual poverty.

For further reading:
Philippians 2:12
Matthew 7:23
Acts 17:10,11
Proverbs 6:6-10
2 Thessalonians 3:10
1 Timothy 5:8

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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