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Scripture Reading: Proverbs 24:30-34

Intro.

1.  God has always intended for man to be engaged in meaningful labor, Gen. 2:15; Col. 3:23; 1 Ths. 4:10-11; 2 Ths. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:8 - Diligence, as unto Lord, honestly, to provide for self & others.

2.  Lazy: "Not eager or willing to work or exert oneself, slothful...slow & heavy; sluggish."

3.  Are we lazy? At our secular jobs? At our spiritual work? (Rom. 12:11)

I.  JESUS WAS NOT A LAZY PERSON.

  A.  He Understood the Work Given Him, Jno. 4: 34-35 (Lk. 19:10).

    1.  Understanding it, He urged seizing it!

    2.  cf. Servant, Mk. 10:45.

  B.  He Was Driven To Do His Work, Jno. 9:4.

    1.  Couldn’t meet crowds, instruct apostles, confront many enemies, etc. & be lazy!

    2.  Gospel of Mark (action) - "Straightway."

    3.  He was compelled to do what had to be done:

      a.  Didn’t wait until He "felt like working."

      b.  Until "everything was just right."

    4.  These excuses breed complacency, procrastination & laziness!

II.  LAZY LESSONS.

  A.  Prov. 6:6-11: Can Keep from being Lazy by Watching and Learning how Others Work.

    1.  v. 6 - Cf. the industry of the ant.

      a.  v. 7 - Self-starter (No prodding needed).

      b.  v. 8 - Uses time wisely for future needs.

    2.  v. 9-10 - Sluggard stays in bed too long!

    3.  v. 11 - Leads to poverty & want.

    4.  Spiritually: Learn spiritual work by watching those who do it!  Phil. 4:9

      a.  Self-starters, using time wisely (Eph. 5:16). 1 Cor. 9:25-27

      b.  Don’t lie down on the job - Deprived of spiritual. blessings!  1 Tim. 4:12

  B.  Prov. 19:15: Idleness Breeds Laziness.

    1.  Many get used to not working - like it!

    2.  Without exertion & labor, hunger comes.

    3.  Spiritually: Can condition ourselves to be satisfied with idleness!

      a.  Exercise yourself, 1 Tim. 4:7.

      b.  Don't be content....Grow!  Heb. 5:12-14

      c.  Develop eagerness! Jno. 9:4 (Rom. 13:11; Eph. 5:14).

  C.  Prov. 12:24: The Lazy Man will Always be Controlled by Others.

    1.  With little effort to provide for himself & his own, he becomes subject to the control of others.

    2.  Spiritually: Laziness makes us susceptible to being controlled spiritually:

      a.  False teachers, Jude 3 (1 Jno. 4:1).

      b.  Other’s convictions - Just following w/o resolve, faith & grounding!

      c.  By sin, 2 Ths. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13.

      d.  Be diligent!  2 Tim. 2:15

  D.  Prov. 18:9: Laziness Wastes One’s Life and Opportunities.

    1.  Prov. 24:30-34 (Field, vineyard) Advantages were neglected & squandered!

    2.  How many lives destroyed by laziness!

    3.  Spiritually: We must be good stewards of the blessings we have been given!

      a.  Trustworthiness, 1 Cor. 4:2.

      b.  Lk. 16:1-2, 9-12 - Having been entrusted with the gospel & salvation, we must dispense it in a worthy fashion.

  E.  Prov. 21:25: Laziness Produces Nothing Beneficial, While Industry Brings Results.

    1.  Lazy man sits around dreaming of gold & silver, but gets nothing! (get rich quick schemes, etc.).  The industrious person gets busy & does what is needed.

    2.  Spiritually: We must get busy to improve our spiritual condition!

      a.  Personally, 1 Pet. 2:1-2 (2 Tim. 2:15) - Knowledge, teaching, exhorter, etc.

      b.  Church growth, Acts 8:4.

  F.  Prov. 22:13: If You Don't Want to Work, any Excuse is Good Enough!

    1.  Spiritually: Don’t look for excuses not to work for the Lord!  Acts 24:25

Conclusion

      God has given us meaningful work in the kingdom - must not be lazy toward our work, 1 Cor. 15:58.