Lesson from the Lazy

Proverbs Summer Series  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 1,238 views

Laziness is an offense to God, Others and personal outcomes.

Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Intro:

I want to speak to you this morning about a sickness that all humans suffer from. The ailment is called Laziness.
I have a riddle for you:
What grows on people that begins in a cobweb and ends in iron chains? Answer- Laziness (William Hales)
The only time a lazy man succeeds is when he tries to do nothing

Background:

Remember that Proverbs is meant to communicate the need for right behavior or proper conduct. The purpose of Proverbs for the follower of God is Sanctification.

Characters:

Proverbs contains two treacherous characters; The Adulterous Woman and The Sluggard
Both of these characters are meant to thwart the life of the follower of God.
Laziness being the foremost of all and the most subtle.
Proverbs 22:13 NASB95
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”
Proverbs 22:13

Laziness is an Offense to God

Laziness is not the same as fatigue although they look similar
Laziness is defined as one who is slow, idle, hesitant , vacillates, procrastinates, negligent, and inactive.
Laziness is an issue of virtue. (Moral, having to do with whats right)
Laziness is the enemy of virtue, and the very train of all wickedness- Patrick Fleming
Laziness is characterized as:
Being full of excuses
refusals
Postponements
Laziness is also Subtle
“Dripping becomes a trickle, a trickle becomes a stream, a stream collects together to make a river”
Because God works and He has created us to work .
Work is not limited to vocation but to other areas of our lives. (Spiritual, Care for others, etc…)
Laziness tramples the responsibility God has given us.
Laziness opposes the Will of God
For this is the will of God....Give thanks
For this is the will of God....Be Sanctified
Being inactive or idle opposes the will of God
James 4:17 NASB95
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Romans 7:14–20 NASB95
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
Romans

Laziness Affects Outcomes

God only wants for us what we would want for ourselves if we were smart enough to want it- Adrian Rogers
Is there anything you aspire to do in life?
The Devil often finds work for those who find none for themselves
Laziness brings harm to yourself
Laziness not only opposes the will of God but also your personal goals
If you get to a point when you don’t Start work or finish work
Leisure has become your idol.
Laziness is fueled by excuses
Resulting in:
You being undisciplined
an unsatisfied
The path of laziness is the straightest of all paths to want and woe- Forbes

Laziness affects Others

Negligence- failure to take proper care in doing something.
What you don’t do can hurt others
Ezra 4:22 NASB95
“Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter; why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”
Ezra 4:22
Restaurant Illustration: Chick Fil A versus other eateries. Chick fil A is built on diligence and care versus the apathy of other eateries.

Conclusion:

Laziness is not a issue of physiology but is spiritual
Laziness is not God’s will for man
There was a man who was a corn farmer who had boys and they worked harder than all the other boys in the Cornfields. While the others would be playing baseball or swimming, the boys would be working the corn farm. One day someone approached the farmer and said you need to lighten up on those boys, you don’t need all that corn! The Farmer said “Mister Im not raising corn, Im raising Boys!”
God has not created us to be Slack or Slothful but t o be Saints of Christ!!
Laziness leads to Death
Proverbs 19:16
Proverbs 19:16 NASB95
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 NASB95
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Sloth is the tempter that beguiles and expels from paradise- Amos Bronson Alcott
God commands us to not be Lazy
Romans 12:11 NASB95
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
God equips us to overcome Laziness
Hebrews 13:20–21 NASB95
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:21 NASB95
equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation:

Laziness is rooted in sin and keeps many from salvation
If you know you are not saved and need to be saved
God was not lazy in saving us
2 Peter 3:9 NASB95
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more