Proverbs 19
15Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping….?
Laziness is a pandemic in this world. More now than ever, people feel entitled to be able to live their lives with a minimum of effort and a maximum of leisure. Then, when tough times come, instead of leaning on developed skills learned from a lifetime of toil, they look for a “bailout”.
I think I know where this comes from.
First, laziness is an offshoot of selfishness which says life is all about me and since I am the focal point things should be done for me by others. There is also a large element of pride (pride and selfishness are twin brothers). In that, the lazy person claims what they deserve is to live comfortably while others around them toil. The sluggard then wants to receive the reward that the hard worker labored for.
That is the attitude behind laziness.
In practicality, it develops from childhood. Parents can go overboard on either side of the boat in this fight. Some will praise endlessly the exploits of their children without requiring any real work on the child’s behalf. This praise can create very low expectations which the child then meets and is praised for without actually doing anything. The child then grows up with these low expectations while feeling like he has done something of value. It becomes equivalent to praising someone for breathing or for not killing themselves.
On the other side are parents who abuse their kids. I don’t mean physical abuse, but psychological and emotional abuse, never regarding anything as good enough, berating a child’s real work and effort as useless. This child grows up with the idea that no one is pleased with his toil and therefore why should he try?
The point is, that we were created for “good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Notice the word work. We were not supposed to be anesthetized by laziness, simply killing time by sleep or pleasure. We were made to enjoy the benefits of labor. God has called us to a lifetime of labor for Him so that we may enjoy the leisure of heaven for eternity.
15Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping….?
Laziness is a pandemic in this world. More now than ever, people feel entitled to be able to live their lives with a minimum of effort and a maximum of leisure. Then, when tough times come, instead of leaning on developed skills learned from a lifetime of toil, they look for a “bailout”.
I think I know where this comes from.
First, laziness is an offshoot of selfishness which says life is all about me and since I am the focal point things should be done for me by others. There is also a large element of pride (pride and selfishness are twin brothers). In that, the lazy person claims what they deserve is to live comfortably while others around them toil. The sluggard then wants to receive the reward that the hard worker labored for.
That is the attitude behind laziness.
In practicality, it develops from childhood. Parents can go overboard on either side of the boat in this fight. Some will praise endlessly the exploits of their children without requiring any real work on the child’s behalf. This praise can create very low expectations which the child then meets and is praised for without actually doing anything. The child then grows up with these low expectations while feeling like he has done something of value. It becomes equivalent to praising someone for breathing or for not killing themselves.
On the other side are parents who abuse their kids. I don’t mean physical abuse, but psychological and emotional abuse, never regarding anything as good enough, berating a child’s real work and effort as useless. This child grows up with the idea that no one is pleased with his toil and therefore why should he try?
The point is, that we were created for “good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Notice the word work. We were not supposed to be anesthetized by laziness, simply killing time by sleep or pleasure. We were made to enjoy the benefits of labor. God has called us to a lifetime of labor for Him so that we may enjoy the leisure of heaven for eternity.
Is it not very rewarding to undertake a project and see it to its completion?
So how do we train ourselves and others to avoid laziness?
I believe it comes down to relationships and expectations. For our children, are we developing close, nurturing relationships with them so that they know our care is genuine and our praise is meaningful? Are we placing on the responsibility and expectations that stretch them so that what they thought was impossible turns out to be possible with some effort and struggle?
How about you? Are you placing expectations on yourself that will require you to work or are you simply acting like the nursery rhyme character brother john?
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping brother john?
So how do we train ourselves and others to avoid laziness?
I believe it comes down to relationships and expectations. For our children, are we developing close, nurturing relationships with them so that they know our care is genuine and our praise is meaningful? Are we placing on the responsibility and expectations that stretch them so that what they thought was impossible turns out to be possible with some effort and struggle?
How about you? Are you placing expectations on yourself that will require you to work or are you simply acting like the nursery rhyme character brother john?
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping brother john?
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