THE BIBLE AND LAZINESS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND LAZINESS

Presented by: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Devotional Text: Prov.6:4-11

INTRODUCTION:

             Laziness is lack of interest and ability to work. The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary in a definition implies that, “one is lazy, when one is not willing to work or make any effort. The implication, according to GOD’S HOLY WORD, is that, “lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth”,(Prov. 10:4 NIV). In furtherance, laziness delays a project, as well as destroys already established foundation. In the words of King Solomon, laziness delays a building and through idleness of hands, the house leaks”,(Eccl. 10:18), as he, equally, cites that, “diligent hands will rule, but laziness end in slave labour”,(Prov. 10:24).

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)       Laziness brings poverty and backwardness in life,(Prov. 10:4)

(2)       Laziness brings deep sleep and sponsors hunger,(Prov. 19:15)

(3)       Laziness, equally, promotes idleness and lack,(vs. 15)

(4)       Laziness paralyzes, even one’s ability to eat, (Prov. 26:15)

LAZINESS AND FAMILY UP-KEEP

             The Scripture...”if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than infidel (1Tim 5:8) is a stern fight against laziness in the family circle. We often assume the cited biblical injunction is exclusively directed to men, who are referred to as the bread winners of the family, but a closer look at the WORD shows, it is directed to the widow, who must take charge in the absence of the husband. Family up-keep is a collection responsibility of all the members of the family. For, just as it is said that, “the family that prays together, stays together”. So, the family that eat together must work together, for its up-keep, and so, there is no room for laziness. Everybody in the family has a role to play for its subsistence. The father, the mother, children, and even maids or servants are to work hard for the economic well-being of the family, as any lazy fellow in the system, definitely, constitutes a setback, just as the lazy individual, who GOD’S WORD describes as sluggard, carries the rebuke, “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed men”,(Prov. 6:9-11). By this, therefore, this lesson implies that, for the up-keep of the family:

(i)                    Every member of the family must work hard for its survival,(vs. 9-11)

(ii)                  Laziness should not be allowed to thrive in family, since poverty and scarcity reign in households

where laziness is not subdued,,(vs. 9-11)

(iii)                 Lazy individuals in family should always be rebuked and encouraged to work, to avoid

 economic pitfalls in family,(vs. 9-11)

LAZINESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

            By way of definition, a community is a people living in one particular place or district, as development is when someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced. And, for community to really develop, its inhabitants must grow in skills, as well as cultivate the drive for hard-work. Therefore, a community goes economically down, when the workforce is not meaningfully engaged, for the fact of unchecked propensity of laziness. For, laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless person goes hungry,(Prov. 19:15). In the words of Matthew Henry, laziness, “stupefies men, and makes them senseless and mindless of their own affairs, as they are cast into deep sleep, dreaming much, but doing nothing. Slothful people doze away their time, bury their talents, live a useless life, and are the unprofitable burdens of the earth”...Does the foregoing depict your life, or the life of someone in your community? Then, the time to change, and help others change, is now. In line with the above, let it be stated that the community:

(i)                    Needs to engage industrious men, like Jeroboam to man their labour force for development,(1Kings 11:18)

(ii)                  Never develops where lazy men are in charge of their labour force,(vs. 18)

(iii)                 Should not allow lazy individuals roam their streets, as this will slowdown  their development,(Prov.28:19)

LAZINESS AND OLD AGE

Old age is critical to a lazy fellow. Thus, the Scripture admonishes that the lazy individual should learn from the ant, when it says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer. And gather her food in the harvest”...(Prov. 6:6-8), which may mean that people should in their days of strength work for their days of weakness. But, the lazy fellow is known for wasting his time and energy all through his life, to complain later or blame people he  should not blame for his woes. Youthful age is the time to work and plan for old age. Civil and public servants count on their retirement benefits, from governments or the establishment they served during their days of strength, as those in private sectors should, by this, learn to plan to put in place what to fall back to when they become old, if they have not done so. Churches which have no retirement scheme for their workforce should now endeavour to do something to this end. For, it is evil to use people at their youthful age, without a measure of comfort for them when they grow old. However, in all our preparations for old age, laziness should not be encouraged. This means that:

(i)                    Everybody, like the ant, should work hard, at the youthful age, in preparation for old age,(Prov. 6:6-8)

(ii)                  Old age is never pleasant, if something to fall back to is not put in place, at youthful age,(vs. 4-11)

(iii)                 Energy wasted at youthful age, may be regretted at old age, but will never be regained,

Nor can the lost benefits be recovered,(vs. 4-11).

  In conclusion, this lesson appears to have solely concentrated on physical laziness. But, there are, also, “Intellectual Laziness” (the inability to do intellectual work), “Spiritual Laziness”(lack of strength for spiritual activities), and a host of others. However, whatever may be the case, the simple truth remains that, GOD and man hate laziness, as it is an element of setback in family and society. PLEASE, KEEP AWAY FROM LAZINESS!