Topical Sermons Power Point Show

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 24:30-34

Laziness

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.