Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
Benjamin Franklin
One practical warning found in proverbs is laziness. Areas wherein I am sometimes lazy are household chores and exercising. These activities are essential since I am in charge of both our home and health. I am a sucker for to-do lists, and I saw this as an opportunity to accomplish things I am lazy about.
Another is by keeping myself busy that way. The momentum of activities does not die down, and my body and mind are always productively occupied.
A lazy attitude is not only applicable to our daily tasks but also can apply to our Christian faith.
History to Understand the Word of God
Proverbs mean “to be like” and the main topic of this book is about the wisdom or the “ability to live life skillfully”. Additionally, this book is a “comparison between common, concrete images and life’s most profound truths”. The writer pondered on 3,000 proverbs and 513 of which are in the Bible.
King Solomon, the second son of King David and Bathsheba, was the writer of the book of Proverbs. When God asks Solomon in a dream of what he wants, Solomon answered wisdom (1 Kings 3:9).
He ruled in 971-931 BC and was the last king of Israel with a united kingdom. Further, he established the first and grandest Temple of God in Israel.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Book of Proverbs 6:6-11. Please, read our recent devotional from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 11:2-16: What Is The True Essence Of Submission?
How does this affect us?
King Solomon has opposed lazy people to the very industrious ants (Proverbs 6:6). How poverty will come (Proverbs 6:11) to those who do not work hard for their living.
These are not only true on how we should be industrious to have bread on our table. But also, each one should be diligent in our reading and studying of the scriptures since this is our daily spiritual bread (Matthew 4:4).
Poverty in Spirit
Matthew 5 talks about the Sermon on the Mount. In verse 3 specifically tells us that blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. But this is true to those who genuinely acknowledge their incapability of having righteousness unless they receive the righteousness of Christ.
When a person accepted their spiritual bankruptcy, they receive the blessing of God. But what happens to those followers who fall asleep? In Philippians 2:12, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Our journey here on earth is temporary. Tribulations will come wherein our faith in Christ will be tested. To prepare for these situations, one should equip themselves with God’s word and start living it out in our lives.
Our Stumbling Block: Laziness
Laziness will lead to spiritual poverty and hunger. How? When we fail to read the words of God regularly, study the scriptures, and pray to God. It is like our physical bodies. We need to eat daily to sustain the normal functions of each system. If we do not feed and immerse our spirit with the contents of the Bible, our spirit will die. Moreover, the effects of this will be us falling away from Jesus.
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- What are you lazy about?
- How do you overcome it?
- How often do you read the Bible?
- Do you recognize that your spirit needs sustenance?
- Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? Accept Jesus Now.
- Where are you in your walk with Christ?
Related Posts
- A Spirit of Justice
- Observation of Agur – Godliness with Contentment
- God’s promises
- A Man of Understanding
Prayer
Our God in heaven, we adore your name. You are the giver of energy and strength to our spirit and we thank you for that. Holy Spirit, our guide and protector, thank you for your constant help when our spirits are in distress, tired and afflicted by the evil one. O Lord Jesus, thank you for your teachings and ways. You showed us, through your ministry, that You also based your life on God’s words. Every day working hard to call people closer to God and teaching them your ways.
May the Holy Spirit continue to give us understanding and wisdom in studying the scriptures. Moreover, may this be our weapons against the attacks of the enemy, especially when laziness comes. We entrust to you Lord our lives.
We humbly pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
