Proverbs 24:30-34 — But… I don’t wanna…

READ THIS: Proverbs 24:30-34

30 I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; 31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 34 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Yesterday, we talked about prioritizing...and sometimes even we know what's important, we still don't do it. Have you ever thought about something you totally need to get done, but there’s that small (or not so small) part of you that says “……..but….I’m tired…..and I don’t wanna,” so the next thing you know, you’re asleep on the couch, playing a video game, or scrolling through your phone doing nothing? Yeah. Me too. More times than not, the idea of relaxing and resting is much more appealing than doing that thing that we just don’t want to do. That’s how we end up with rooms that need some extreme cleaning, closets that have unbelievable amounts of junk in them,  homework assignments with fat zeros on them, and lawns that are full of weeds and way-too-tall grass.

This proverb is a much needed reminder for all of us that these little moments of laziness add up to a big problem. When we let our lawns get gross or a small grade doesn’t get an A, it doesn’t feel very big. But laziness, when it’s continued and repeated, becomes a lot more like muscle memory or a habit (or even an addiction).

Often times, we look at our laziness and say “yeah, I know that’s lazy, but once things get more important, I won’t act lazy anymore.” Here’s the deal: everything we do, including right now, is important to Jesus. The biggest issue about being lazy is that we suddenly make ourselves the one who decides what is important and what isn’t! Jesus tells us to work hard at ALL that we do, because when we do anything, we should be seeking to praise God, not humans and not ourselves (Colossians 3:17). Otherwise, the consequences can be dangerous.

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. How can comfort and laziness grow into something dangerous? How do we stop laziness before it grows?

2. What’s that thing that you’ve been putting off doing for a while now?

TRY THIS:

 

Whatever that thing you answered for number 2 was… drop your phone and DO IT, not for your benefit, but to glorify Jesus through it!!!