Diligent or Lazy
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyones bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2Thessalonians 3:7-10 (NKJV)
In Part I of this devotional we learned that in whatever we do, we need to do it unto the Lord. We learned that as Christians, we are to work as if we were working for God Himself. We are not to work for the primary purpose of financial gain, or to build an empire here on this earth. But we are to do it with the thought of building a witness for the Lord, bringing honor to His name.
People are taking notice of what we do, and in how we perform our daily tasks. They are deciding if we really do apply the very things that we have been encouraging them to do.
But I have seen personally and have heard many stories of Christians who really dont want to work at all. For some it can be because they feel that they are personally called to be involved in ministry, and they feel that they are now not to work physically. So they spend their whole day doing whatever it is they want, involving themselves in the lives of others, and they justify this as what God has called them to do. We see the Apostle Paul speaking of these types of people.
Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other peoples business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 2Thessalonians 3:11 (NLT)
It is true that there are some who are called to do ministry full time (See Eph 4:11-12), but many people use this apparent calling as a cloak to hide laziness. They dont want to work by the sweat of their brow, and again, they will justify why they shouldnt work at all, or why they shouldnt do a specific type of work that is not to their liking.
Before I go any further, I want to identify with the fact that there are two types of people out of work; those who dont want to work, and those who do want to work, but are temporary unemployed. I fully understand our economy is really suffering, and there are many good Christian men and women who are out of work these days who are very willing to go to work if the work were available. And I also know that God has a plan for each of us, including those out of work, and we need to seek Him each and every day to see what that plan entails.
With that said, let me continue with what the Word of God says about those who are both diligent and those who are lazy. Proverbs is full of wisdom and it gives us great understanding as to the fate of each type of person.
Proverbs makes is very clear that diligence, which is being willing to work hard and do ones best at any job given to him or her, is a vital part of wise living. We should be working hard unto the Lord; giving Him our best, not to become rich, famous or admired. That might be a by-product, but it should never be the focus.
Below is a list of just a few of the proverbs and the results of each type of person.
We read that the diligent Have abundant food, while the lazy Chase fantasies (Proverbs 12:11).
We read that the diligent Are fully satisfied, while the lazy, Want much but get little (Proverbs 13:4).
We read that the diligent Make careful plans, while the lazy Love pleasure and become poor (Proverbs 21:17)
We read that the diligent Give without sparing, while the lazy, Desire things but refuse to work for them (Proverbs 21:25-26).
We read that the diligent Reap abundance through hard work, while the lazy Experience poverty because of laziness (Proverbs 28:19)
We can clearly see a pattern here in Proverbs with respect to those who are diligent in working hard, and with those who are not willing to work because of laziness.
Contrary to what some may think, God did not create us to sit around and play our Xbox 360 all day, or to sit and watch Jerry Springer, or Oprah Winfrey and eat Entenmanns donuts.
God has commanded us to work with our hands so that we might eat, and provide for our family. The Apostle Paul spoke to the church of Thessalonica about how they were to work and not to be a burden. He even lived in such a way as to be an example to others.
You might work until the day you die and see Jesus face-to-face, but that will not be a tragedy.
Living for this world, or living a lazy life and wasting the precious time that God has given youThat my friends is Tragedy!
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the scriptures above with reference to working hard, or being lazy?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you seen people choose the path of laziness expecting others or the government to provide for them?
APPLICATION: We need to encourage those who are able to work to go out and seek employment. If they are willing, God will guide them in finding work at exactly the right time. Be willing to take what is offered, and dont be choosey.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyones bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2Thessalonians 3:7-10 (NKJV)
In Part I of this devotional we learned that in whatever we do, we need to do it unto the Lord. We learned that as Christians, we are to work as if we were working for God Himself. We are not to work for the primary purpose of financial gain, or to build an empire here on this earth. But we are to do it with the thought of building a witness for the Lord, bringing honor to His name.
People are taking notice of what we do, and in how we perform our daily tasks. They are deciding if we really do apply the very things that we have been encouraging them to do.
But I have seen personally and have heard many stories of Christians who really dont want to work at all. For some it can be because they feel that they are personally called to be involved in ministry, and they feel that they are now not to work physically. So they spend their whole day doing whatever it is they want, involving themselves in the lives of others, and they justify this as what God has called them to do. We see the Apostle Paul speaking of these types of people.
Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other peoples business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 2Thessalonians 3:11 (NLT)
It is true that there are some who are called to do ministry full time (See Eph 4:11-12), but many people use this apparent calling as a cloak to hide laziness. They dont want to work by the sweat of their brow, and again, they will justify why they shouldnt work at all, or why they shouldnt do a specific type of work that is not to their liking.
Before I go any further, I want to identify with the fact that there are two types of people out of work; those who dont want to work, and those who do want to work, but are temporary unemployed. I fully understand our economy is really suffering, and there are many good Christian men and women who are out of work these days who are very willing to go to work if the work were available. And I also know that God has a plan for each of us, including those out of work, and we need to seek Him each and every day to see what that plan entails.
With that said, let me continue with what the Word of God says about those who are both diligent and those who are lazy. Proverbs is full of wisdom and it gives us great understanding as to the fate of each type of person.
Proverbs makes is very clear that diligence, which is being willing to work hard and do ones best at any job given to him or her, is a vital part of wise living. We should be working hard unto the Lord; giving Him our best, not to become rich, famous or admired. That might be a by-product, but it should never be the focus.
Below is a list of just a few of the proverbs and the results of each type of person.
We read that the diligent Have abundant food, while the lazy Chase fantasies (Proverbs 12:11).
We read that the diligent Are fully satisfied, while the lazy, Want much but get little (Proverbs 13:4).
We read that the diligent Make careful plans, while the lazy Love pleasure and become poor (Proverbs 21:17)
We read that the diligent Give without sparing, while the lazy, Desire things but refuse to work for them (Proverbs 21:25-26).
We read that the diligent Reap abundance through hard work, while the lazy Experience poverty because of laziness (Proverbs 28:19)
We can clearly see a pattern here in Proverbs with respect to those who are diligent in working hard, and with those who are not willing to work because of laziness.
Contrary to what some may think, God did not create us to sit around and play our Xbox 360 all day, or to sit and watch Jerry Springer, or Oprah Winfrey and eat Entenmanns donuts.
God has commanded us to work with our hands so that we might eat, and provide for our family. The Apostle Paul spoke to the church of Thessalonica about how they were to work and not to be a burden. He even lived in such a way as to be an example to others.
You might work until the day you die and see Jesus face-to-face, but that will not be a tragedy.
Living for this world, or living a lazy life and wasting the precious time that God has given youThat my friends is Tragedy!
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the scriptures above with reference to working hard, or being lazy?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you seen people choose the path of laziness expecting others or the government to provide for them?
APPLICATION: We need to encourage those who are able to work to go out and seek employment. If they are willing, God will guide them in finding work at exactly the right time. Be willing to take what is offered, and dont be choosey.
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