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Chapter 5
LAZINESS GETS US NOWHERE
A Norwegian proverb goes, “The lazier the man is, the more he plans to do tomorrow.”
It is true that some people remind us of blisters. They do not show up until the
work is completed. You may be sitting on the right track. But if you just continue
sitting there you will be run over by a train.
The Bible is not gentle toward those who are of a slothful spirit. When studying
through some of the exhortations that are spread throughout the Scriptures, we get the
distinct impression that God views idleness to be completely opposite to what He
expects of His children. It is the industrious spirit that glorifies God among men. And
spirits that are contrary to a spirit of industry bring a mockery to the Spirit in us that is
supposed to bring glory to God.
A. The sluggards, slothful and those who slumber:
The old English words that were used in reference to lazy people were very descriptive
of those who are challenged in activity. The definition of these words that are used
in older English translations of the Scriptures give some very graphic pictures of those
who are not prone to work. The following Spirit-inspired passages will define the
attitude of the person who is not acceptable to God because of the inactivity of his or her
behavior. When studying through these passages, one thing is very clear. People with a
lazy spirit are not true children of God. Since good works identify the people of
God, the lack of such defines those who are not God’s people. Keep this in mind as
you journey through these key passages.
(This series of blogs compose a book that carries the title, “Justified By Works.” )
1. Wrong attitudes profess that one does not know God. “To the pure all things
are pure. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Even their
mind and conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God. But in works they
deny Him, being abominable and disobedient and worthless for any good work” (Ti
1:15,16). If evil works deny that one knows God, then certainly good works profess our
knowledge of God. The one who is driven by an evil attitude cannot profess God. If
this is true – and it is according to Paul – then good works are necessary in order for
one to profess God. If there are no good works in one’s life, therefore, there is no
profession of God. In fact, the lack of good works would deny God.
2. Slumber robs one of success. “Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your
eyelids” (Pv 6:4). “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep –
so shall your poverty come on you like a robber, and your need like an armed man” (Pv
6:10,11; see 24:33,34). If you have a problem arising in the morning, then these exhortations
by Solomon would be worth memorizing. People who sleep too much are not
successful. Poverty is the thief of those who slumber.
3. Sluggards need to consult ants. “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 gathers her food in the harvest” (Pv 6:6-8). Self-initiative? Do you
have it? If one must have a “captain,” “overseer” or “ruler” in order to perform, then
there is a lack of self-initiative in one’s spirit. Are you asked to perform, but there is no
initiative to carry out the task? “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the
sluggard to those who send him” (Pv 10:26). Someone said, “Too many people itch for
what they want but won’t scratch for it.” So do you want to do something, but just
cannot work up enough energy to get the job done? “The soul of a sluggard desires,
and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Pv 13:4). Or, maybe
you have been using every excuse not to perform, and thus have had to turn to begging
off the works of others. “The sluggard will not plow because of winter; therefore he
will beg during the harvest and have nothing” (Pv 20:4). This passage is similar to
Paul’s exhortation in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “… if anyone is not willing to work, neither
let him eat.” As I said before, the Holy Spirit is not easy on lazy people.
4. Slothful men are roadblocks to work. Have you ever been considered a “thorn
in the flesh”? “The way of the slothful man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the
upright is a highway” (Pv 15:19). Having a difficult time feeding yourself? “A slothful
man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again”
(Pv 19:24). Do you want to put your life in danger? “The desire of the slothful kills
him, for his hands refuse to labor” (Pv 21:25). Ever wonder why you are sometimes
without food? “Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer
hunger” (Pv 19:15). Ever wonder why the weeds grow in your field? “I went by the
field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there
it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall
was broken down” (Pv 24:30). What about the leak in the roof of your house or hut?
“Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house
leaks” (Ec 10:18). After reading these exhortations from God, would we be wrong to
conclude that His people should never be identified by a slothful spirit?
B. The road to recovery:
Christians are to be identified by their diligent spirit and fervent attitudes in good
works. As Jesus was identified by His works, so the same evidence must be the testimony
to the true disciple of Jesus. If one finds himself with a slothful, sluggish and
slumbering spirit, then it is time for repentance. It is time to revive one’s attitude and
change one’s life-style.
1. Repent and turn to good works. I think it is interesting that the Holy Spirit made
good works a signal of repentance. Usually, when we think of repentance we think only
of obedience to God’s laws. But I think the Spirit has more in mind. If one repents
from doing evil works, then certainly repentance must be manifested in doing good
works. Listen to what Paul preached.
But I preached first to those of Damascus, and also at Jerusalem, and then throughout all the
regions of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do
works appropriate to repentance (At 26:20).
In repentance one certainly returns to obedience of God’s will. But in this passage,
Paul taught doing good works was what God requires in repentance. This is the will
of God. Now is this contrary to our traditional practices? A sermon is preached. An
invitation song is sung. People walk forward. Prayers are uttered. All is well. Is it?
What if the next time someone came forward with a repentant spirit that a list of works
to be done was handed to the person in order that he or she “does works appropriate to
repentance”? Now let’s see who responds to the invitation.
I believe he was preaching that slothful people must get busy and manifest the glory
of God in their lives by doing good works. It was the same message that he stated in 2
Corinthians 7:10. “For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation that is not to be
regretted.” “Works repentance” means more than sorrowful feelings and rededication
to the law of God. Doing good works is involved in repentance. If there are no good
works coming forth from the repentant, then there is no evidence of repentance. The
conclusion to Paul’s point is that we cannot know if one repents simply by tears
and confession. The truly repentant must get to work. One cannot say he repents,
and then return to what he considers “faithfulness” by sitting on a pew at every called
assembly of the saints.
The Ephesian church was meeting in their assemblies, but Jesus called on the church
to repent. In this call it is not surprising that they were called to do good works as a
manifestation of their repentance. “Therefore, remember from where you have fallen,
and repent and do the first works …” (Rv 2:5). If they were to repent, then they must
return to do good works. Jesus encouraged the church in Thyatira when He said, “And
he who overcomes and keeps My works unto the end, to him I will give power over the
nations” (Rv 2:26). I think it is interesting in the context of this exhortation that Jesus
did not say keep His word. Keeping the word of Jesus is obvious (See Jn 12:48). The
exhortation is to keep His works. Are these the works that have been prepared for us to
do as disciples of Jesus (See Ep 2:10)? Probably so, but more on this in a following
chapter.
Now consider the possibility that in salvation, one must repent in obedience to
salvational laws. One must simply do what Jesus said in reference to obeying the gospel
by immersion in water for remission of sins (See Mk 16:16; At 2:38; 22:16). But in
repentance that precedes obedience to the gospel, one must make a commitment to be a
disciple of Jesus. The initial command of Jesus to the apostles was, “Going, therefore,
disciple all the nations …” (Mt 28:19). To disciple is to teach how one must behave as a
follower of Jesus. And a disciple is a follower of the good works of Jesus. Therefore,
when the disciples went forth to preach the word, they also preached something else.
Paul preached obedience to word and works.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things that Christ has not worked through me, to
make the Gentiles obedient to word and deed, through powerful signs and wonders by the
power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully
preached the gospel of Christ (Rm 15:18,19).
Just in case you might miss the point, consider what Paul said in Colossians 3:17.
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through Him.” There is a connection in Scripture between the
word of the Lord and the deeds that must accompany obedience to the word. The gospel
is communicated through the medium of words, but one cannot stop with obedience to
the gospel through baptism (See Rm 6:3-6). The deeds must also follow. One’s repentance
to discipleship means that obedience to the gospel is only the beginning of a
life time of good works. The same argument against the teaching of “faith only salvation”
is also true of “baptism only salvation.” As faith without works is dead, so also
baptism without works is dead. Please keep in mind what Paul wrote to Timothy,
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tm 3:16,17).
We now pick up on something in this often quoted passage. Many years ago I would
quote the passage in reference to doctrinal matters. I missed the complete point. I
missed the good works, the purpose for which all Scripture was inspired. All Scripture
is inspired for the purpose of behavioral changes. The word must move one from
evil works to works of righteousness. The Scriptures must be applied in a manner that
equips one to produce good works. It is right to believe that the Scriptures are inspired
by God. But that belief is dead if we are not instructed to do right things and every good
work. Now I use the Scriptures to correct life-styles and instruction in behavioral
changes in order that disciples be equipped to do every good work. I use the Scriptures
to produce faith in order to move mountains, with emphasis on move.
2. Good works get us everywhere: 1 Peter 3:10-12 is a combination of quotations
from Psalm 34:12-16 and Psalm 37:27.
He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips
that they speak no deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and
pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their
prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
After such a statement, we would conclude that it says what it means and means
what it says. The one who would see good days must not do the things listed. But
notice that in order to see good days, one must do good. This is taking an initiative to
do something. One cannot simply stop doing evil things. He or she must get busy and
do something good. This is why repentance must involve doing “appropriate” good
works. When one stops evil works, but does not fill in the vacuum in his life with goods
works, he will often return to his former evil works. It is for this reason that the repentant
must be given tasks to do. If the repentant are not challenged to do good, they will
go back to doing evil.
Every church should be as a colony of ants. The nature of an ant is to work for the
benefit of the colony. No one tells an individual ant what to do. It is simply the nature
of an ant to work. No one has ever seen a lazy ant. We do not even refer to ants as
“working” ants. They are just ants, and ants work. Would that such could be said of all
Christians. We would not have to say, “He is a ‘hard working’ Christian.” Why can we
not simply say, “He is a Christian”? And by identifying one as a Christian, the world
concludes that he is hard working. The name “Christian” should be synonymous with
hard working.
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