Praise & Pray

We often are very clear that lying, stealing, fornication, and hypocrisy are wrong, but how many of us are aware that laziness is a sin? What about slothfulness or being a sluggard? Are we even familiar with those latter terms?

The Bible tells us that there is a set time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). It also tells us that those who use those set times appropriately are wise and will reap a reward. Consider Proverbs 20:4 - Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. A lazy, sluggardly person will not use the seasons to achieve what they should, and they will therefore not reap when harvest time comes.

Proverbs 10:5 - He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Why would someone sleep during the harvest period? Why, after sowing seed and laboring over its growth with fertilizer and weeding, would that person choose to sleep during the reaping season? Why wouldn't anyone want to reap the reward of their hard work?

Although the scriptures speak to an agrarian setting, they apply to those of us living non-agrarian lives. And, believe it or not, distractions from satan are a key factor that can get in the way of using time well. A complication will suddenly arise and seem so pressing that we lose track of the fact that it is time to reap what we sowed. Something could happen to manipulate emotions, leaving us in a negative headspace where we overlook the need to go harvest.

Then there's also the unfortunate reality that many of us don't recognize laziness as wickedness. From God's perspective, He opened a door for us to move and thereby reap. When we choose to be lazy, thinking the opportunity will remain, or ignoring that we've received grace in a season, we disregard what the Lord did for us.

In the Parable of the Bags of Gold, one servant made no effort to earn a profit for his master. He was called wicked and lazy due to his carelessness with what he'd been given (Matthew 25:26). Lacking zeal, he ignored his fiduciary duty to be fruitful for his master. It is this type of negligence that causes many Christians to fail to take advantage of the opportunities God has provided, thinking little of the chance to leverage the moment they are in.

One reason God hated Esau was that he was careless with his inheritance. We should be careful not to be lax or indifferent in how we treat what God gave us. This could be the very job we complain about, our assignment to help or serve someone who disregards our efforts, or an opportunity to work hard so we reap later. We have to pay attention to the times we are in so we don't ignore and squander what God has lined up for us.

Sloths are lovely to watch, but must never be emulated. They move at a snail's pace because God created them that way. We were created to move with the Lord's set times, not being lazy or sluggardly. This requires building a relationship with God, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. It is important to study the word and recognize the patterns and seasons you experience so you prayerfully prepare to navigate them successfully.

Give your life to Christ with the Altar Call below and learn more about today's topic from the following previous P&P messages:

1. Move with The Cloud

2. Requirements to Receive

3. Look out for what you prayed for

4. You Reap What You Sow

5. What Pleases God & What He Wants

6. Give God What He Wants To Get What You Want

7. If you use it, you'll get more (Faith At Work Series)

8. The Lesson in Repeated Patterns

9. Your Fiduciary Duty To God

10. Stop Living Like A Pagan

11. Unserious Christians

12. Be About The Father's Business

13. How To Treat What God Reveals

14. Are You Trustworthy?

15. Don't Be Wasteful

16. Hold On To What You Have

17. Are You Truly A Christian?