Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
– Proverbs 6:6-11
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
– Colossians 3:23
Devotion
Idleness is a growing problem throughout the world. Capable people are becoming more reliant on the government and government programs and less willing to make a living for themselves. The national debt in America is increasing by monumental proportions, and the future of the country, due to this debt, is at stake.
The Bible teaches that idleness and laziness leads to poverty, but even more than that, it is contrary to God’s plans for our lives. We are to live our lives in such a way that we are representing the Lord. When laziness and idleness fill our lives, we lose our sense of purpose and will become a burden to those around us instead of a blessing. Solomon reminds us to take our direction from the unsupervised ant which gathers and prepares food during their seasons so that it will be sustained in the months of need. Likewise, we need to work hard when we are able and plan for the times we are not. Our work should be characterized by excellence, whether or not we have an overseer who evaluates us. Any work we are given is worth doing well.
When we encounter those who are living lives characterized by laziness, we should encourage them to work and admonish them with patience and love. We can remind them that God created each one of us to work and has wonderful plans for us to join Him in His work: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
The Big Question
What is your attitude toward work? As you reflect on your job, school, and home, are you working with passion as to the Lord, or just getting by? Do you find yourself bitter towards those who you feel are not working to their full extent? How can you encourage them to reach their full potential?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what you have learned.