Laziness is not a part of our character naturally. Many people think that it’s a normal part of life, but it’s actually a disease and addiction.
Matthew 25 shows us the ending of a lazy servant. Jesus called the lazy servant wicked. That servant went to hell. According to scripture the fruit of laziness is wickedness and hell.
Satan is watching you all the time. He never forgets about you, even when you forget about him. He never forgets about your spouse, your children, your parents, and your ministry. He is always looking to devour you.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Satan will devour those who are lazy. How? Lazy people have every good plan to serve God, study the Bible, do mission work, and pray. But they plan to do it tomorrow. Today is God’s day. Tomorrow is the devil’s day.
Proverbs 22:13
13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”
A lazy person is always speaking negative things. Their body may be lazy but their lips are constantly speaking negative things.
Lazy people don’t want to work. They speak to justify their lazy lifestyle. They say they don’t know how, something bad will happen, or that it’s too hard. Sometimes they say the work is too easy and that they are too good for it. They make excuse after excuse. They say that can’t do something because they don’t know how. They say they can’t work because they are too weak. That is just an excuse.
Weak people work harder. Scripture says that when we are weak, He is strong. If you are truly a weak person, then you must rely on God. You must do the work in His strength. You must give your best so that God can help you. If you believe you are weak, you will actually work harder.
If you say that you are weak to get out of something, it’s not because you believe it. It’s because you are lazy.
Proverbs 24:33-34
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
There are two kinds of sleep. Sometimes our bodies need sleep so we sleep. Other people feel like they always need more sleep. They want a little more and a little more. That is laziness.
2 Timothy 4:1-2
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
We should look for every opportunity to preach and speak the gospel.
There are different kinds of laziness. One kind of laziness is not doing work for yourself – just being sleepy and unmotivated. Working only for your kingdom, but not for God’s kingdom is another kind of laziness.
Proverbs 26:15
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
Laziness will destroy us. There are things that we know to do but don’t do because of laziness. Laziness is like an addiction. If you allow yourself to be a little lazy today, you’ll want to be lazier tomorrow. Laziness is never satisfied. It always wants more. Laziness wants to grow and grow and grow.
If you want to get delivered from laziness:
#1 You must find purpose in your life. If you have purpose, you will work.
#2 You must have vision for your life. If you have a vision and a dream, you will work toward that dream.
Those who have a dream for their lives work hard in school and work and in everything they do. They who want to be great musicians practice for hours every day. Those who want to become great business people work hard in school. But those who don’t have a dream for their future don’t work hard because they don’t have anything to work for. To overcome laziness, find purpose and dream for your life.
#3 You must find God’s calling in your life. We all have a calling in our life. We must find out what they calling is and move forward with that calling. Find your place to serve God.
Being lazy is your choice. You can be delivered if you want.
Proverbs 21:25
25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.
Laziness doesn’t just affect you. Laziness affects those around you, too.
What is the fruit of laziness?
- Only doing what you want to do
- Sleep, not because your body needs it but because you want to sleep
- Being lazy with prayer and God’s work
Philippians 3:12-13
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Find a goal in your life. Have purpose in your life. Find your destiny and calling. Then work to make it happen.
Apostle Paul worked hard. He worked even while he preached. He didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. He had purpose in his life, which gave him strength and focus.
When we have purpose in our lives, we cannot be lazy. When we have a dream, we will work hard. Paul fought the good fight because he had a goal, a calling, a purpose. He knew the purpose in his life.
Romans 12:11
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
We always need to have passion for the work of God by the Holy Spirit.
We need to watch out for after we have accomplished our goal. The first thing that people do is relax. If we aren’t careful, that relaxing can turn into laziness.
We need to know our assignment. When we know our purpose and assignment, we can have a victorious life.
God bless you,
Pastor Sun East