Scripture says that laziness is a sin. What is the price and consequence of being lazy? Poverty. Loss. Death.
Proverbs talks about laziness 25 times. Laziness is mentioned in the whole Bible 45 times.
Proverbs 6:11
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
Scripture says that lazy people will become poor. You may say, “I just give too much to the church” or “I am just struggling right now” or “It’s because I’m helping other so much.” Scripture says that if you give to God, He will give back to you.
Proverbs 10:4
4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 12:24
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
If you are diligent in your work, you will prosper even if you give to others.
Deuteronomy 8:18
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
How can we prosper in every area? The key is to use the talents that God has given us.
God gives us 3 things in order to prosper:
#1 Time
#2 Ability
#3 Talent
God will not give $1,000,000 to someone who is young. They don’t have the discernment to know how to spend it. They’ll buy LEGOs and candy and games. They lack the ability to know how to handle that much money. Ability comes with maturity.
God gives us time. We must use it wisely. God gives us talents to multiply and use for His honor and glory.
If you want to prosper, use the talents that God has given you. Wise people use their time to multiple their talents. Lazy people bury their talents because they don’t want the responsibility.
Those who want to prosper work hard.
Laziness is not a lifestyle. It’s a habit. It’s an addiction. You can overcome. You can get delivered.
The book of Proverbs praises those who work hard but chastises those who are lazy. Laziness is wicked. It is sin. Those who are lazy make the choice to be lazy. If they continue to be lazy, they will destroy themselves, their families, their cities, and their nation.
What causes people to disobey God? Laziness.
Why do you think that the servant with 1 talent in Matthew 25 didn’t make more talents? Laziness. He didn’t multiply the talent he was given because he was lazy.
Obedience has power to change situations. Laziness has the power to bring destruction. Lazy people are very irresponsible. When we are lazy, we become powerless and useless.
Proverbs 26:14
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
A lazy servant will not have a harvest.
Matthew 25:14-30 teaches us many things. Each of these 3 men had the same amount of time to accomplish their assignment. They were given different amounts of resources, or talents. They each had a different ability; they were given talents according to that ability. This shows us that God’s love for us is equal, but that He will not give each of us the same things or the same amount. We each have different abilities; God gives us what we can handle.
God was not displeased because the man with one talent only had one talent. He was displeased because he didn’t use that talent. He was lazy. God’s answer to the man with two talents and the man with five talents was the same. It didn’t matter that one had more than the other. They were each faithful to what they were given. They each worked to increase their talents. God blessed them both. He was pleased with them both.
This scripture also shows us that God has given us a certain amount of time to work with. We need to live as though every day is our last day on earth. If today is your last chance to use your talents, how will you act? If today is your last day on earth, have you completed your assignment? Are you ready to answer to God? Is your heart right with God?
God bless you,
Pastor Sun East