The Bible gives God’s judgement on laziness and slothfulness. It’s not a coincidence that the first chapter of the Bible begins with the creative work of God. Then after 6 days, he rested because the work was complete. That is not laziness, it is well-deserved rest. And it’s not a coincidence that the last chapter of the Bible promises a reward to each person according to what they have done. God wants us to be working.
The First Law of Motion states, “A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force.” This simply means that things cannot start, stop, or change direction all by themselves. It takes some force acting on them from the outside to cause such a change. This property of massive bodies to resist changes in their state of motion is sometimes called inertia. –Newton’s Laws of Motion
God abhors laziness
When Christians stop letting God move them, they are overcome with laziness. They stop reading, stop learning, stop growing, and let their praying knees get lazy.
- The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)
- Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11 WEB)
- I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34 WEB)
God gives rest
People want rest. But they keep doing what they’ve been doing and keep getting what they’ve been getting. They bounce around with random Brownian Motion like sugar poured in a hot cup of coffee. Only God can provide rest.
- A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)
- But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20)
- They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13)
- The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace. (Isaiah 59:8)
- When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)
- I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
- Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.(Psalm 119:165 NKJV)
- The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17)
- The gospel of rest
God causes motion
People tend to remain unmoved until something bigger than themselves moves them. So let God move you from the inside out.
- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT)
- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
- God equips you with all you need for doing his will (Heb 13:21)
- But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13)
- He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (Isaiah 40:29)
Some ideas to get started
It’s significant that God calls people who are busy: Gideon was threshing grain (Judg. 6), Samuel was serving in the tabernacle (1 Sam. 3), David was caring for sheep (17:20), Elisha was plowing (1 Kings 19:19-21), four of the apostles were managing their fishing business (Mark 1:16-20), and Matthew was collecting taxes (Matt. 9:9). God has nothing good to say about laziness (Prov. 24:30-34; Matt. 25:26-27; 2 Thess. 3:10-12).
- Start reading your Bible: you don’t have to go to a university or seminary, it’s not how much you read or how deep you study but that you did it.
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- Start listening to Christian music: there are many good Christian radio stations and free options on the Internet. Modern praise and worship music touches the lives we live today.
- Get involved with a good local church: there are so many to choose from so find one that resonates with you and get involved, attend weeknight Bible studies, join a small group, or volunteer to help.
- Start exercising: you don’t have to join a gym or buy weights, walking is fine, it’s not how far you go or how fast you move but that you did it. Many studies have shown as little as 20 minutes of walking a couple times per week will improve your health, happiness, and brain power.
- Start volunteering: there are dozens of opportunities in your community to help at churches, schools, homeless shelters, community centers. If those are too far away, find a neighbor who needs some gardening, or a shut-in who would like someone to read to them. It doesn’t matter how much you do but that you do it.
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- Add your suggestions for overcoming laziness in the comments below…